Independent Thinking on Restorative Practice: Building Relationships, Improving Behaviour and Creating Stronger Communities

by Mark Finnis

In Independent Thinking on Restorative Building relationships, improving behaviour and creating stronger communities , Mark Finnis shares a practical and inspiring introduction to the use of restorative practice in educational settings. For those educators who are uncomfortable with the punitive world of zero tolerance, isolation booths and school exclusions, Mark Finnis – one of the UK’s leading restorative practice experts – is here to show you that there is another way. Drawing on his many years’ experience working with schools, social services and local governments across the country, Mark shares all you need to know about what restorative practice is, how it works, where to start and the many benefits of embedding a relational approach into any educational organisation that genuinely has people at its heart. Covering coaching circles and the power of doing things with (and not to) children and young people, to moving your values off lanyards and posters and into the lived experience of every member of the school community, this book sets out how restorative practice – when done well – can transform every aspect of school life. The book shares advice on how to put behaviour right when it goes wrong in a more positive, less punitive way, and, more importantly, on how to get it right and keep it right in the first place. Furthermore, it advocates an approach that is collaborative, empowering and positive – and ultimately geared to improve motivation, engagement and independent learning in even the hardest-to-reach young people. Suitable for school leaders, educators and anyone working with young people. Independent Thinking on Restorative Practice is one of a number of books in the Independent Thinking On … series from the award-winning Independent Thinking Press.

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2020

Reviews

[Jonathan Lothspeich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book that places school culture & climate at the forefront of its student-centric policy ideals. I particularly liked that the author emphasized ways to prevent conflicts from escalating and proactively creating a healthy environment for students over the reactionary policies that Restorative Justice books tend to focus on.

2nd Read-Through: Still 5 stars. I've been using the 3 bubble model instead of the 5 questions model for years now and love it. Revisiting this now as an assistant principal in charge of a restorative practices initiative at my school is a wild position to be in considering I first read this as a fresh graduate student only thinking about sociological theory rather than knowing the actual practicality of the ideas. Finnis does an excellent job in grounding this in realistic goals and using real schools as exemplars for what a school system can look like.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read that everyone in education should read to help foster better relationships and resolutions to conflict. People in leadership essentially must read it to better take care of their school community. “You can’t put students first if you put teachers last.”

Teachers need to read it to have the buy in to make change in their school. Students need to be taught the steps in the restorative process to help resolve their conflicts.

“If we accept the premise that conflict is a natural part of any worthwhile relationship, then our focus isn’t on avoiding the possibility of strong disagreements ever happening but on using dialogue to seek to understand and grow.”

The restorative model is clearly outlined and easy to follow. Finnis includes a model school who is using this method successfully and has numerous statements that cause further thought like “Less is more only when more is too much.”

The importance of working “with” students rather than “to” “not” or “for” is also clearly defined with the aim being for high challenge and high support.

Stronger school communities are guaranteed if this model is implemented and followed by all.

[Emma Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark delivered a session at our LA and though the book demonstrates primarily how restorative practice works in schools, you can apply restorative practice and thinking to any relationship and the book is helpful to support individuals to do so.

[Emma Slade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new

[Stuart Macalpine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informal and helpful basic intro to restorative practice - very UK in references and tone .

[Errol Orhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent introduction, light where it can be, thorough where it needs to be.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to restorative practice

[Douglas Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A school's behaviour policy and its sanctions won't work by itself. Here's the magic.

[Djuna Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alligator with a monocle (3.5 stars)