Return to Restorative practices

Board policies and website links

Durham District School Board Restorative Practice is part of the Durham District School Board (DDSB) Safe Schools initiative. It is a way of thinking that builds community, while supporting well-being and student achievement. Through Restorative Practice we aim to promote a positive sense of self, spirit and belonging. Great resource Promoting and Supporting Well-Being: Restorative Practice & Results-Based Accountability “Cultivating Community” Project

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board KPR believes that everyone has the right:

  • to be safe
  • to feel safe, welcome and included at school, and,
  • to be treated with respect, dignity and humanity.  

We believe everyone in our school community plays a part in achieving these goals.  Restorative practice offers an effective approach to teaching, learning and keeping schools safe.   It is a way of thinking and acting as a community.   It focuses on strengthening relationships, to deal with conflict or tension positively. Restorative practice is firm and fair, seeking answers to specific questions to identify what happened when things go wrong between individuals, and to build positive responses.   Schools using restorative practice report a safer learning environment where students are more connected to one another and to staff, and where they are free to focus on improving achievement.  KPR schools have used it successfully to prevent or respond early to issues such as bullying or cyberbullying, before they reach the problem stage. (Policies for Safe, Caring and Restorative Schools in KPRDSB)

York Region District School Board Restorative Approaches In York Region, some staff and schools have chosen to adopt Restorative Approaches as a framework to address conflicts so that in a conflict situation no one is left behind and everyone is a part of the solution. When we take the time to do this, we increase school safety, build community and create a sense of belonging. Where differences arise in our schools, we have a responsibility to work together to seek just and equitable solutions and to ensure the dignity of all who are involved in a conflict situation. The focus is on positive discipline, accountability, and support.

Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board Restorative Practice ​is a way of thinking and being based on a foundation of caring, collaborative, and respectful relationships. Restorative Practice builds and strengthens healthy relationships and community and provides a supportive framework to prevent, respond to, and repair harm through a continuum of practice. The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board utilizes circle, a program that demonstrates the foundations of restorative practice. Click here to watch a video of students and staff sharing their thoughts on circle.​

Durham Catholic District School Board Restorative practice rests on the belief that it is best to do things with people rather than to them, by engaging them in fair process and responding to behaviour in ways that involve strengthening and repairing relationships. Restorative practice is not about removing control from the offender. Instead, it is a balance between control and support. It is a collaborative approach versus a confrontational setting of discipline, classroom management and relationships.

Limestone District School Board MEND (Mediating Ends Negative Disagreements) The MEND, or Mediating Ends Negative Disagreements, approach is a restorative practice that focuses on relationship building within Limestone District School Board school communities.MEND is a restorative approach/ practice. MEND supports preventative community building in classrooms, provides restorative training for staff and students and responsively assists students in conflict to find restorative resolutions.MEND is a collaborative Youth Diversion/LDSB initiative.Restorative Practice Definition: (Restorative Practice Consortium 2016)

  • Restorative Practice is a way of thinking and being based on a foundation of caring, collaborative and respectful relationships.
  • Restorative Practice builds and strengthens healthy relationships and community.
  • Restorative Practice provides a supportive framework to prevent, respond to, and repair harm through a continuum of practice. The focus of MEND is on building relationships between people (preventative) and on rebuilding and repairing relationships where needed (responsive).

Peel District School Board Peel Policy #48 Safe and Accepting Schools “…offer programs and supports to students who have been harmed or students who
have engaged in serious student incidents, that emphasize a range of early,
ongoing and proactive positive and restorative practices, such as character
education, peer mentoring, student leadership, bullying prevention and
intervention, conflict prevention and intervention, restorative circles, restorative
questioning, counseling and social emotional learning.” Terrific resource Climate for Learning and Working in Action – an educator’s resource to help build and maintain a positive climate for Learning and Working at school.