Coaching Circles

At North Fawdon Primary School, we use relational practices to respond to the challenges faced by young people and our community in the modern world. We believe that strong relationships support learning and mental health.

The Coaching programme at North Fawdon Primary School is fundamental to form strong relationships within our community.

Our Coaching groups are vertical and consist of approximately twelve pupils and one member of staff. Groups include pupils from Year 1 to Year 6.

When pupils arrive on a Monday morning, their first session is spent with their Coaching group. This is called a ‘check-in’ session. This circle-based session allows all pupils to be fully informed of key events and opportunities happening in school, through the sharing of our Newsletter. Pupils also share updates from their weekends and goals for the week ahead.

On Wednesday morning, groups meet again for a check-up, which is a chance to discuss how the week is progressing. Children also talk about at a current affair topic to learn from our world and develop respect for other’s beliefs, feelings and faiths. They encourage exploration, discussion, challenge and inspire children to learn.

On a Friday, Coaching groups meet after lunch for a check-out circle. This is a time for pupils to discuss their achievements from the week and review current targets, ensuring they are best aligned to make the most of learning opportunities. The Friday Coaching session is also a chance for a community builder – pupils play games together to develop relationships within the group.

Coach Contact

The ‘coach’ – the member of staff in each Coaching group – ensures every pupil has a voice and a ‘partner in learning’ to provide ongoing care and encouragement. Children remain in the same coaching group throughout their time at North Fawdon to develop deep, trusting relationships.

A community functions and succeeds because of strong relationships.

Restorative Practice

To build and maintain strong, healthy relationships, North Fawdon Primary School believes it is important to equip young people with the necessary skills to resolve difficulties and repair harm where there has been conflict. One way in which we do this is through restorative practice by supporting self-regulation, facilitating repair, encouraging problem solving, creating connections, and building relationships. Restorative practice is a way of working with conflict that puts the focus on repairing the harm that has been done and includes all the parties involved in a dispute.

Restorative practice ensures that every voice in school is heard. It encourages pupils to treat others with respect and to understand why relationships are so important.

Our restorative approach helps pupils:

• understand how their actions can affect others
• develop characteristics they can use in and out of school
• understand themselves and each other better
• learn why it’s important to see another person’s point of view
• see that it’s ok to make mistakes
• learn how to move through conflict creatively