How to Respond to Student Bullying and Conflict – 3 Key Skills

by | Jun 24, 2020

Many of the teachers that we work with in our anti-bullying workshops have expressed concerns about increases in challenging behaviour and conflict as students begin to return to schools after the school closures.

That’s why, at OpenView Education, we’ve created this quick guide to help you take a restorative approach to conflict and bullying resolution. 

What is a restorative approach?

A restorative approach, or restorative practice aims at repairing the harm that has been caused during conflict. It includes all people who were involved in the conflict, and helps them move towards restoring peace and mutual respect. 

A restorative approach is particularly valuable for school aged children, as it has the capacity to equip them with the skills they need to effectively resolve interpersonal conflicts now and in the future. 

Research has shown that whole-school restorative approaches were the most effective ways of preventing bullying. 

What is the aim of a restorative approach?

A restorative approach prioritises positive relationships and collaborative teaching and learning. It can help us to view classrooms as communities, in which we work to achieve collaboration. 

It also involves seeking alternative ways to respond to conflict aside from punitive behaviour solutions such as exclusions.

So let’s start thinking about how we can implement the key skills of the restorative approach in our school. 

Key Skills of the Restorative Approach

 

1. Mindful Listening

When speaking with students about conflicts that they have experienced actively listen to what they are trying to communicate, rather than passively hearing the words that are being said. Being present and mindful in our conversations is a key part to this. 

Mindfulness can support us in active listening, and you can even try mindfulness activities with your students

2. Restorative Questions

Use open, restorative questions to make sure that you get a full picture: 

  • What happened? 
  • What were you thinking/feeling at the time? 
  • What are you thinking/feeling now? 
  • Who’s been affected by what happened and how? 
  • What do you/they need? 
  • What needs to happen to make things right?

 

3. Behaviour as a Communicator

Ask yourself… ‘What is a student’s behaviour telling me about their thoughts and feelings?’ 

Students may or may not be able to express their thoughts and feelings clearly, so we can look to their behaviour to provide us with information about what they may be feeling and thinking. 

 

Ask yourself…

‘How can a better understanding of my students thoughts and feelings better inform my response to their behaviour?’ 

 

When responding to challenging behaviour and conflicts, our emotions in the moment can easily influence our response. 

But knowing more about the root causes of challenging behaviour and conflict often helps us to find a more appropriate and effective response and reduces our emotional reaction. 

It’s tempting to assume that we have all the information about a situation, with a restorative approach we are encouraged to seek more information and understanding. 

Over the long term, developing a restorative process to conflict and bullying is an investment in teacher-student relationships and supports the development of a positive and inclusive school community. 

How We Can Help

At OpenView Education, we feel strongly about the value of a restorative approach to conflict. That’s why in our new Anti-Bullying Show Time To Unite! We have modeled the restorative approach; The performance demonstrates how the restorative approach can be used to address, and resolve a bullying situation. 

As Associate Members of the Anti-Bullying Alliance we work with over 75,000 students and teachers every year, and the schools that we work with have found that our whole school anti-bullying workshops and performances have helped them to create a proactive and restorative culture in addressing conflict and bullying. 

Questions to think about moving forwards….

When could you make use of mindful listening? 

When and where could you use the restorative questions?

If you found this useful, please share this on twitter, or feel free to link to the poster on your website.

What Works in Anti-Bullying Education

What Works in Anti-Bullying Education? 3 Evidence-Based Strategies for Schools

Every school leader, teacher and PSHE lead wants the same thing: a school where every pupil feels safe, supported, and respected. But with bullying still affecting many children, the question remains: what actually works in anti-bullying education? At OpenView...
5 Tips for Anti-Bullying Week

Anti-Bullying Week Tips: 5 Ways to Make a Lasting Impact at Your School

 Anti-Bullying Week is one of the biggest opportunities each year to make a real, lasting difference in your school’s culture. But after supporting hundreds of schools across the UK, we’ve noticed that some important planning details can easily get...
Anti-Bullying Week 2025 Power for Good

Anti-Bullying Week 2025 – Power for Good

What is Anti-Bullying Week 2025? The theme for Anti-Bullying Week 2025 is “Power for Good,” highlighting the vital role that each of us plays in positively influencing others, making safer communities, and actively preventing bullying. Launching this...
3 Principles of Knife Crime Education

Knife Crime Education: 3 Evidence-Based Principles That Make a Real Difference

  Download ‘What Works in Knife Crime Education PDF Here.  Knife crime education is a sensitive but vital part of violence reduction in schools. In this video, James from OpenView Education shares three key principles behind our evidence-based approach, and...
What Works in Knife Crime Education

What Works in Knife Crime Education? Why a Skills-Based Approach Makes the Biggest Difference

With rising concerns around youth violence and knife crime in the UK, schools are under growing pressure to respond with education that makes a meaningful impact. But while the urgency is clear, the approach we take matters. Not all knife crime education programmes...

TikTok Parent Guide

Download our guide on what parents need to know about TikTok.

TikTok Parent Guide

Thank you! Your TikTok Parent Guide is in your email inbox now.