Abstract
Schools that put a restorative philosophy into practice typically use a range of methods. Whatever form these take, at their core is the concept of a caring, inclusive community. When conflicts, bullying and social exclusion arise – as inevitably they will – restorative practices have the potential to engage the perpetrators, their victims and the bystanders in a collective process of problem-solving whose aim is reparation of damage, restoration of the quality of relationships and the reintegration of participants in the conflict back into the school community.