EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORT
PUPIL SUPPORT
DEVELOPING RESTORATIVE PRACTICE We are delighted to announce that Barry Mitchell Depute Head Teacher, Pupil Support Service has agreed to undertake the role of further developing Restorative Practice throughout Aberdeen city. Barry will be working alongside SACRO one day a week developing then delivering Restorative Practice training to teachers across the authority. This role was previously undertaken by Richard Hendry. SACRO are heavily involved in youth justice helping young people throughout Aberdeen. They have been working alongside Richard Hendry supporting and delivering the first round of training. "Restorative approaches range from: developing a restorative climate in schools with activities such as circle time and peer support, ‘restorative conversations’, when teachers or peer mediators intervene in a situation or formal restorative conferencing involving all those affected by an incident, including families where appropriate." (Education Scotland) Throughout the authority a number of schools have started to embed this approach. We hope to continue to build momentum. As well as developing Restorative Approaches the Pupil Support Service and other services throughout the authority are developing a range of positive behaviour strategies. These approaches include a Solution Oriented Approach and Nurture principles. It is recognised that these approaches compliment each other and can be used in unison to best meet the needs of pupils. A CPD showcase event has been organised to give a brief introduction to these approaches. "Solution oriented applications have been in use in Scottish councils for around 20 years. They are now widely used across the country within educational and social services as effective and focused ways of identifying positive outcomes to complex and challenging issues." (Education Scotland) A Solution Oriented Approach was introduced to Aberdeen City in 2009. Since this time a number of inservice days and twilights have been held training Teachers, Educational Psychologists and Classroom assistants. A number of schools throughout the authority are using this approach particularly for meetings, focusing on the solution not the problem. "A nurture group is a group of six to twelve children, mostly in a mainstream setting. The prime focus is on meeting social and emotional wellbeing needs. An increasing number of young children are finding it hard to fit in at the early stages, thus disrupting the learning of their peers. The first principle on Nurture is: Children’s learning has to be understood developmentally." (Education Scotland) In Aberdeen City a number of Nurture Groups have been set up to assist pupils experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. There has been great success with pupils working in nurture groups before being reintegrated back into their classroom. Nurture Groups and the principles feed into the overall ethos of the school creating a Nurturing environment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact: HELEN MILNE Acting Service Manager ASN HMilne@aberdeencity.gov.uk 01224 523449
By developing these three approaches the aim is to provide both primary and secondary practitioners with a range of skills which they can use to best meet the needs of the pupil. On the 12th of November 4:30 - 5:30 a showcase event will be held giving a brief introduction to these positive behaviour strategies. The event will consist of a 10/15 minute introduction to each of the approaches with additional time for discussion and questions. The event will take place at Hazlehead Academy. If you would like to attend this event please contact the CPD team. curriculum for excellence