restorative practices

Bream Bay College focuses on creating strong relationships within the College community. Positive relationships and care are important for a good learning environment where deep learning can occur. We use restorative practices to address conflicts and repair harm, in line with our values of accountability and responsibility. It reflects a commitment to our MANA values, a belief in accountability and an acceptance of responsibility for our actions by “making things right” 

How can parents assist?  
- Listen to your child without judging. 
- Support your child, whether they're involved or  affected. 
- Remember there are multiple perspectives. 
- Trust the College and its process. 
- If you're unsure, ask College staff for help. 

Why Restorative Practices?  

Restoring relationships with respect using a proactive  problem-solving process.  Restorative Practices work in various settings and formats:  Minichats, informal conversations, structured conversations,  class meetings, or full conferences. 
Each method aims to boost self and community understanding. 
It's about owning up to actions, recognizing results, and facing  consequences. 
The goal is to help Bream Bay College learners understand  their behaviours, take responsibility for actions, understand  the effects and accept the consequences – “whatever we do,  whether good or bad, will have an impact on someone else.”  (Thorsborne)  The aim of the Restorative approach is to be operating with where Bream Bay College learners are supported to understand and learn. 

Why conference?  

Sometimes, a serious incident needs more attention, and a restorative conference is an option. If families choose not to participate, the situation is handled differently, usually in a traditional way. In a conference, a trained staff member gathers those affected—students, families, staff—when it's decided that this is the best path.  Conferences involve respectful talks, attentive listening, and finding solutions for the effects and hurt. An agreement is made by everyone and followed up to ensure completion.

The Restorative Script – 5 steps 

Tell the story – Establishing understanding  
What happened and what were the causes?  
How did you become involved?  
What were you thinking at the time?  

Explore the harm – Developing empathy  

Who has been affected?
In what ways?  
Was this fair or unfair?  
What do you think it must have been like for them?  

Repair the harm – Taking responsibility  

What do you think needs to happen to put things right?  
How will this happen, tell me more about this?  
When can this happen?  

Reach an agreement – co-constructing an agreement  

How can we make sure this doesn’t happen again?  
What do you need to stop doing, stay doing, start doing?  
What support do you need from me/us?  
If this happens again, what will you do differently?  

Plan follow-up - allowing parties to move forward with support 
When would be a good time to check in with you and see how you’re getting on?  What will happen if our agreed outcomes haven’t been reached? 

Parent Conference Information

Behaviour Development Guidelines