Restorative Practice in Coolock Community College
In 2018/2019 Coolock Community College organised Restorative Practice training with the Tallaght West Child Development Initiative for nine staff members. Subsequently four staff members have been trained in Facilitating Restorative groups, circles and conferences as well as Restorative Meetings. Three staff members Ellen Scally, Suzanne Cavanagh and Nickola Holly have trained in the Train the Trainer Restorative Practice course in order to train the remainder of our staff, extending the training in time to students, parents, feeder schools where possible and the Coláiste Dhúlaigh CFE staff in order to build a Restorative Community.
What are the aims of Restorative Practice? (CDI Restorative Practices)
- Building good relationships
- Preventing and resolving conflict
- Emotional intelligence – Self-awareness and awareness of others feelings, handling negative emotions positively
- To use restorative language expressing feelings, consciously building empathy
- Being Fair – engaging, explaining, having clear expectations.
Restorative Questions to address harm:
- What happened?
- What were you thinking at the time?
- What have you thought about it since?
- Who has been affected and in what way?
- How could things have been done differently?
- What do you think needs to happen next?
Be Fair: Everything will work much better!
- ENGAGE with everyone who is affected by the decision
- EXPLAIN why the decision needs to be made and any contributing factors
- Make sure everyone knows what is EXPECTED of them in the future
Staff trained in Restorative Practice in 2018 /2019
| Course | Staff Member | Dates |
| Getting Started with Restorative Practices |
Ellen Scally Suzanne Cavanagh |
6th March 2019 13th March 2019 |
| Getting Started with Restorative Practices |
Sandra Nagle Malachy Farrell Áine O’Connor |
8th May 2019 15th May 2019 |
| Restorative Practices Facilitation Skills |
Suzanne Cavanagh Ellen Scally |
29th – 30th May 2019 |
| Restorative Practices in schools: Training of Trainers |
Restorative Practice training was delivered to all staff in the 2019/2020 academic year and a school-led implementation team is now the next in-house focus in order to support, maintain and further embed this initiative through regular Community of Practice meetings.
Restorative Practice in Coolock Community College
In 2018/2019 Coolock Community College will aim to attain the Restorative Practice Flag through sustained implementation in the school and community.