Building a Trauma-Informed Restorative School

Book excerpt: Covering both theory and practice, this betselling guide provides educators with everything you need to know about developing restorative and trauma-informed practices within your setting. Part 1 addresses the theory and philosophy of restorative approaches, and of trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive schools. Part 2 outlines the five restorative skills (mindfulness, honest expression, empathy, the art of asking questions and the art of requests). It shows you what these look like in practice - including using circles, respect agreements and restorative dialogue - and how to implement them. Every strategy is clearly explained and adapted to be appropriate for children and adults who have experienced trauma. Designed to be adapted for different school settings and their particular challenges, this groundbreaking guide provides you with a trusted roadmap for successfully introducing restorative trauma-informed practice.