Foulford Primary School
Restorative Practice in Foulford Primary School (November 2005)
Foulford School, in Fife, is one of the 'Restorative Approaches' Pilot School. In this article staff explain briefly how they have implemented and evaluated a particular approach to help address concerns about playground behaviour.
Foulford Primary School believes in prevention and pre-emption and therefore we included Restorative Approaches in our School Development Plan and began in 2004 to develop mediation to support children in the playground situation.
By October 2004 our Action Plan was fully developed. Specific staff utilised for the initiative were trained in delivering the mediation programme. Parents were informed of the initiative to raise awareness and develop parent partnerships.
All pupils in Primary 6 and 7 were trained in mediation skills. Pupils chose the name "Problem Solvers" and a school competition provided us with a logo for the identifying caps the Problem Solvers would wear whilst on duty.
January 2005 saw pupil training in employment skills: CSV's, application forms and interview skills. The job specification was posted and candidates applied, a short leet identified and successful applicants were invited to group interviews and posts were allocated.
The whole school was invited to a power point presentation presented by the "Problem Solvers" to raise awareness of the playground initiative. The presentation explained the role of a Problem Solver through role plays. The logo competition winner was presented with her winning entry and prize. Problem Solver identity caps were on order along with Friendship stops, Mediation stops and Time Out stops. Mid February saw the Problem Solver team on duty with trained staff supporting initially.
The action plan highlighted hard and soft key indicators to evaluate the initiative. From the year-end questionnaires the initial year with Problem Solvers in the playground has met the success criteria in all respects. Recommendations have been incorporated in the Action Plan for 2005/2006.
The 2005/2006 action plan uses the recommendations successfully for all aspects of the Problem Solver remit. The pupil questionnaire requested more to do in the playground and playground games. The initiative has proceeded to develop the playground with various playground art/games bases. Developing a partnership with the Active Schools Coordinator provided training to a team of "Foulford Friends". The team followed their peers and chose caps with the same logo displaying "Here to Play" as opposed to the Problem Solvers "Happy to Help" motto.
Towards the end of year one, the Foulford Friends followed the same regime as the Problem Solvers in order to gain employ in the team. The team delivers games sessions to the pupils on designated days in the week.
Trained in game play, health and safety, organisation skills they provide a valuable support role to the Problem Solvers.
Our second year is providing a continuum with the emphasis on teamwork and partnership. This is a positive progressive element of the initiative where negative behaviour and a detrimental culture has been turned around to find positive behaviour, a constructive ethos and happier pupils in the playground. The use of a "bottom up" approach has empowered the pupils, increased their social skills and developed their citizenship skills.
