Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
WHAT is Restorative Practice? (RP)
RP is a relational approach to school life, grounded in beliefs about equality, dignity, mana and the potential of all people. The PB4L, RP (Positive Behaviour 4 Learning, Restorative Practice) model focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships across the school community and offers staff, best-practice tools and techniques to restore relationships when things go wrong. It is underpinned by 4 Principles.
Positive interpersonal relationships are a major influence on behaviour
A culture of care supports the mana of all individuals in the school community
Cultural responsiveness is key to creating learning communities of mutual respect and inclusion.
A restorative approach leads to individuals taking responsibility for their own behaviour.
WHY Restorative Practice at Avalon Intermediate School?
As a school, we understand our role in developing happy, healthy and resilient learners, building a culture of care and creating, safe and healthy societies. We know that fostering positive and respectful relationships with our young people has a profound impact on their overall behaviour, learning and achievement. If we view “problems as problems” rather than, “people as problems” we can talk with our young people in respectful ways that allow them the opportunity to take ownership and responsibility for their behaviour while maintaining the dignity and mana of all those affected.
We understand that our students won’t always “get it right” in terms of learning and equally so with behaviour. RP allows us to do “with” them, rather than “to” or “for” them. We know that when our ākonga are part of the process, they are happier, more cooperative, productive and therefore, more likely to make positive changes.
