Encouraging positive behaviour

In West Dunbartonshire we encourage positive relationships in our schools and early years centres. This allows children to learn and develop in a caring and welcoming environment.

Our schools and early years centres aim to create a learning environment to:

• be welcoming for pupils, staff, parents and visitors
• allow everyone to feel valued and listened to
• encourage pride and mutual respect
• support pupils in developing ways of coping with problems
• allow pupils to make informed decisions and choices on their relationships with others
• be safe and ordered
• be stimulating and enjoyable
• expect pupils to achieve
• promote positive and respective relationships

What we do

We use varied techniques to encourage positive relationships. Techniques used include:

• Nurture groups

We provide nurture groups in some schools for young children. Nurture groups place an emphasis on personal and social development for children who struggle to manage the transition into school and form relationships with others. They are supported in a smaller class groups for part of the school week.

• Alternative thinking strategies

Many of our Schools and early education centres are using the PAThS (promoting alternative thinking strategies) curriculum to develop the mental health and well-being of our pupils.

Paths lessons encourage:

• emotional awareness
• self esteem
• self control
• interpersonal problem solving skills.

Restorative practice

Restorative practice is an approach to dealing with conflict and building positive respectful relationships within schools. It uses meetings and sessions so pupils learn how to acknowledge responsibility for harm and find ways of repairing relationships.