Within the Children and Young People Team (CYP) we provide 2 distinct conflict resolution programmes for primary aged students (Key stage 2).
Valuing Each Other
(VEO) is a programme for the whole class and is a series of 8 workshops run over consecutive weeks. Both peer mediation and valuing each other are conflict resolution programmes. However within the Valuing Each other programme there are distinct aims throughout the weeks; namely for the students to explore their identity, share and discuss thoughts and feelings on various issues with their class members. Students have the opportunity to question and affirm their peers and importantly further develop empathy between students and their sense of belonging to the class group.
As with all work delivered by the CYP team, VEO is delivered by a member of conflict and change staff and supported by a Peer trainer. Peer Trainers are young people from Newham aged 16-21, who have completed the TRUCE 20/20 programme, and who want to volunteer their time to share the knowledge they have gained.
Peer Mediation
is a training programme that is run over three days and for a set number of students, usually between 10 - 14 maximum. Students are given the opportunity to develop their social skills in order for them to have the understanding and personal capabilities to act as a mediator for their peers, within the school. And crucially they are taught the practical step by step techniques of mediation.
Conflict & Change will work alongside a key member of staff at the school (Learning mentor/ SENCO/Inclusion manger) training the students and supporting them in how a mediation scheme can be integrated and developed for their school.
Click ON THE APE to listen to the story of the Peer Mediators at Hartley School - 
How does it work?
The course consists of three full days usually spread over 2-3 weeks; with a fourth day later in the term to assess how the mediators are performing, and what further support they need to improve their service and skills. Staff are encouraged to use the peer mediators whenever possible to resolve disputes and conflicts between other pupils, and we can support staff in this endeavour. We encourage schools to aim for long-term independence in the running of their PM training schemes, and provide support and training to achieve this aim.
What do mediators do?
- Help people in difficult situations
- Help stop fights/conflicts
- Listen to what people have to say
- Stop conflicts from escalating
- Help people gain confidence
- Help victims of bullying
Aims for the Course
- To explore our own responses to conflict and explore helpful options.
- To learn and practice mediation process.
- To work on active listening skills.
- To work on skills for translating the language of blame into the language of need.
- To explore the use of strategic questions in mediation.
- To explore strategies for dealing with difficult behaviour.
- To establish the mediators as a team and build team work.
- To look at the experience of practising peer mediators, identifying what has gone well, what has been difficult, and exploring strategies for dealing with the difficult situations.
- To deepen the practise of peer mediators.
- To reflect on the experience of small group work + learn some new exercises for use in workshops.
