Dunnikier Behaviour & Relationships
Restorative Practices
Restorative practices are processes for resolving conflict and repairing relationships, which come from restorative justice. Restorative justice has been used in criminal justice systems in many countries, including the UK, since the 1970s and involves holding criminals accountable for their crime whilst offering respect and support to both them and their victims. This has in turn been applied in schools. It involves a change of approach from a more punitive model where punishments are given to children, to a restorative model where problems are solved with children.
Restorative practices in schools can involve a variety of different approaches and techniques, such as restorative scripts or restorative meetings. All the techniques are focused on resolving conflict where it occurs. This is done by answering the following questions:
- - What has happened?
- - Who has been affected by the situation?
- - How are they feeling?
- - What needs to be done to put the situation right?
Even very young children can be supported to take part in these conversations and develop their understanding of their own and others’ feelings, and how to put things right when there has been a conflict.
How it looks in Dunnikier PS
We are currently updating our restorative scripts and Boardmaker to be in line with our Emotion Works Programme. We will let you know ASAP when this is ready.
Kitbag
Kitbag is a set of resources to help children build resilience, increase their confidence and develop positive relationships by enabling them to talk openly about their feelings, deal with conflict and build friendships. Using Kitbag encourages children to feel calmer, reflect and communicate and develop creativity. It promotes mindfulness and develops self-care and hope.
The resources in a full Kitbag are:
- Calming oil
- Feelings card
- Talking stick
- Puppets
- Animal cards
- Presence cards
- Music CD
- Wonder Journey story
- One-minute timer
At Dunnikier we have used Kitbags for several years. Each class has their own Kitbag and we also have them available in other areas of the school, such as the Sensory Room, Learning Support base and Hub. We encourage children to use Kitbags through whole class sessions, individually, planned groups and at specific times when children may be experiencing challenging emotions.
Pupils may request the class Kitbag to solve problems they have experienced in the playground and this fosters a sense of responsibility and independence.
Using Kitbag fulfils many aspects of the Health and Wellbeing curriculum as it encourages communication about feelings and emotions.
Kitbag was developed by the International Futures Forum, based in Aberdour and is used extensively in Fife. It can be used by individuals, groups and whole classes.