What is it?

Training brings alive the theory and practical aspects of our Learning for Peace resource, so staff are better equipped to put it into practice.  By the end of the training, your school will have the tools to be able to address SMSC from Reception to Yr 6 through five themes.  We work with you to be able to facilitate Peacemaker circles and to understand the purpose and significance of the fun and interactive methods we use to engage pupils spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. The whole package can be delivered over half a term.

Who is involved?

We work with the senior leadership team, all primary teachers and teaching assistants in your school, your SMSC/PSHE lead and pupils.

What's included? 

• A planning day with your SMSC/PSHE lead to help plan regular Peacemaker sessions into your curriculum from Reception to Yr 6.  Together we will look at your existing plans and other whole school initiatives so that this work dovetails existing priorities. This includes Rights Respecting Schools, Global Learning, Growth Mindset and Values Education. We believe these initiatives can help each other rather than work against each other.
• A twilight or half day training to kickstart the project with all staff. This will introduce the theory and the approaches and demonstrate effective circle time for all pupils.
• Classroom modelling with pupils. Our trainers will come and run a circle with every class in your school to show how the sessions can be structured and facilitated.
• Classroom mentoring for staff. We will join in a circle with every class, facilitated by the class teacher, and give constructive feedback. We also give opportunities for staff to ask questions and reflect on their practice.
• Final twilight or half day training. This provides an opportunity to reflect on what has happened during the classroom sessions, and to give further training on particular themes of interest to staff [for example understanding conflict].
• A copy of the book

What is it?

According to research, social and emotional skills are key to children's development and to achieving life goals. Peacemaker courses can bring enhanced focus to a school’s PSHE and SMSC work.  The course explores feelings and behaviours, builds social relationships and equips children with skills for life.

We work with any year group, and most often are asked to work with Years 4 and/or 5.  One trainer works with a class for either an hour or an afternoon a week. Our trainers are highly experienced and will develop a programme according to the needs of the class, drawing on tried and tested techniques and approaches. Courses can be between 6 and 10 weeks long depending on your needs. 

Who is involved?

The aim of the course is to help build and maintain relationships with everyone in the class so the whole class is involved. This includes any adults who are usually in the classroom, and all children.  

What's included? 

• Weekly circle time sessions facilitated with the whole class.
• Sessions planned using our Peacemaker Curriculum. Themes may include, cooperation skills, emotional literacy, understanding conflict, conflict resolution, exploring anger. 
• Session plans and resources shared with staff.
• Debriefing meetings following each session to reflect on pupil and staff learning. 

What are the benefits? 

• Vocabulary and strategies are developed between staff and pupils to be able to talk about and reflect on behaviour in school. Allows the class to be able to explore what is happening when things go well, and when things go wrong. 
• Children learn new vocabulary and visual ways of expressing their needs and are reassured when staff share the language and tools.
• Children learn to work outside of friendship groups. 
• Staff have space to better understand the needs of their pupils and classroom dynamics. 
• Staff develop skills and knowledge which can be included in their practice moving forward and can be shared with the whole school.  
• The whole school benefits by investing time in developing healthy, more peaceful classrooms, which can lead to better outcomes for children, and greater sense of work satisfaction for staff.

What is it?

Peer mediators are young people [usually Yr 5/6] who are trained to mediate disputes on the playground.  A school mediation service is run by volunteer pupils, supported by a volunteer member of staff. Our training and supporting materials, can help you set up a service in your school or refresh an existing scheme.  Peacemakers is a member of the national Peer Mediation Network, and we adhere to their best practice guidelines. 

Who is involved? 

The core training takes place with 24 children selected using a voting or application process, and a member of staff who will lead the mediation team and support them once we leave. Lunchtime Supervisors are invited to join in part of the training.  A successful peer mediation scheme ultimately involves the whole school.  We see the best outcomes when senior leaders, teaching staff, support staff, lunchtime supervisors, children, parents and governors actively support and encourage the mediation team. 

What's included?

• Support pack for the school to help prepare pupils and staff for mediation.
• Planning meeting to talk through the process and what is involved. 
• Training for 24 pupils over 3 full days [this may be reduced to 2 days in schools where pupils have had skills-based sessions in conflict resolution, for example,  following a Peacemakers course]. 
• Peer Mediation Coordinator included in the whole training [more are welcome]. 
• Lunchtime supervisors invited to part in the training [usually an hour]. 
• Staff briefing [45 minutes] to introduce the service to the wider staff team. 
• Certificates for all trained mediators.
• Follow up session plans for the Coordinator to support the mediation team once we leave. 

What are the benefits? 

• Staff spend less time responding to incidents during and after lunch.
• Staff have a greater understanding of students’ experiences and relationships.
• Improved student behaviour and opportunities for classroom dialogue.
• Children develop confidence, social and communication skills.
• Children experience support from a team.
• Children develop skills for life.
• Children experience the satisfaction of helping their peers.
• Children have an opportunity to resolve conflicts without involving adults.
• Children have the chance to have their point of view heard and understood.
• Children get the chance to find a solution that works for them.
• There is a more peaceful school environment.
• Schools consistently report that mediation appreciably reduces the amount of staff-time responding to student conflicts, while the mediators themselves enjoy the responsibility.

The video shows a teacher talking about the impact of mediation in her school...