Circle Time for Playground Disputes

Name: Andrea Thomson
School: Drumearn Primary School
Council: Fife
Email: dunearn@fife.gov.uk

Focus of Practice

Participation in decision making in solving playground disputes.

Short Description

1.Identifying the “key players” in disputes and taking them from the larger group
2.Using circle time approach re turn taking
3.Following a “script” e.g. What do you feel the problem is? What made things get worse? What result do you want? What can you do to earn this result?

Depending on age/maturity of pupils, this can be done with HT chairing, or trained playground friends chairing or independently by pupils involved. Follow up meetings are arranged to check success.

Why Was It Successful?

The pupils have a clear structure to follow. There is a no blame culture. This approach is non threatening, pupils generally take the responsibility of solving the problem seriously. Because they have been involved in the agreement repercussions are much less. A written format can be given to calm down the more heated scenarios.