The Venture PACE approach

Here at Venture Academy we have adopted the PACE approach into our school life.

What is PACE?

PACE was developed by Dr Dan Hughes and was created with the aim of supporting adults to build safe, trusting and meaningful relationships with children and young people who have experienced trauma. The approach focuses on building trusting relationships, emotional connections, containment of emotions and a sense of security.

PACE helps us as adults to slow down our reactions, stay calm and tune into what the child is experiencing in the moment. It supports us to gain a better understanding of what the child is feeling. In times of crisis it allows us to stay emotionally regulated and guide the child through their heightened emotions, thoughts and behaviours.

The Restorative Approach

Restorative practice is a way of working with conflict that puts the focus on repairing the harm that has been done. It is an approach to conflict resolution that includes all the parties involved. 

A restorative organisation allows time to listen to the voice of individuals, staff and families. It wants to hear people’s stories, help them clarify their issues and needs, and empower them to find their own solutions to what is concerning them.

Restorative Practice should take place within 5 school days of any incident to ensure its effectiveness. However, some students may require time to reflect following an incident to ensure they are ready to engage with restorative interventions. 

Students with special educational needs may need support prior to the intervention taking place. Students who have social communication needs will need access to an advocate or keyworker who can help them to understand what the process is that they are taking part in and how it will work for all parties involved. 

The impact and overall effectiveness of restorative practice could be evaluated in the following 
ways:

Immediate: 

• The school is aware of a problem and is putting in appropriate support in response. 
• Students feel listened to and supported to deal with an incident or issue immediately (student voice).
• Families acknowledge that the school is responding to a reported issue in a timely and effective way, providing feedback to families. 
• There is a reduction in the level of anxiety, stress, anger or distress the incident would have caused without the intervention. 

Short Term: 

• A positive, trusting relationship is established between a group of students and Venture Staff.
• The situation is monitored over a period of time to ensure the resolution is ‘holding.’ 
• Consistency of staff involved with any ongoing or further incidents. 
• Venture Staff have the support of a procedure in place to respond to ongoing incidents of peer conflict.
• Communication between home and school leads to greater parental confidence. 
• There is a focus on impact and reintegration rather than blame and punishment for those who have been excluded. Improving relationships between adults and students in school.

Medium to long term: 

• Students feel confident in resolving any future conflicts or issues in a restorative manner without the need for adult intervention. 
• Students are more resilient and less likely for any incidents to have a long-term negative impact on their emotional wellbeing. (case study see appendix e) 
• Reduction in the number of repeat incidents of aggression and violence (data)