What is Peer Mediation?

Peer Mediation is a process where two trained mediators help two other children, who are engaged in a dispute, to find their way to an agreeable solution. It is different from Buddying or Mentoring schemes but can operate alongside such initiatives in schools. Mediators are trained to recognise bullying, and although they cannot mediate such incidents, they will refer them to the Mediation Lead.

Below is a summary of where the mediation training links with the PSHE curriculum.

CORE THEME 1: Health and Wellbeing PSHE Programme of Study [KS2]:

• H18. About everyday things that affect feelings and the importance of expressing feelings.
• H19. A varied vocabulary to use when talking about feelings; about how to express feelings in different ways.
• H20. Strategies to respond to feelings, including intense or conflicting feelings; how to manage and respond to feelings appropriately and proportionately in different situations.
• H24. Problem-solving strategies for dealing with emotions, challenges and change, including the transition to new schools.

CORE THEME 2: Relationships:

• R13. The importance of seeking support if feeling lonely or excluded.
• R17. That friendships have ups and downs; strategies to resolve disputes and reconcile differences positively and safely.
• R18. To recognise if a friendship (online or offline) is making them feel unsafe or uncomfortable; how to manage this and ask for support if necessary.
• R20. Strategies to respond to hurtful behaviour experienced or witnessed, offline and online (including teasing, name-calling, bullying, trolling, harassment or the deliberate excluding of others); how to report concerns and get support.
• R27. About keeping something confidential or secret, when this should (e.g. a birthday surprise that others will find out about) or should not be agreed to, and when it is right to break a confidence or share a secret.
• R30. That personal behaviour can affect other people; to recognise and model respectful behaviour online.
• R33. To listen and respond respectfully to a wide range of people, including those whose traditions, beliefs and lifestyle are different to their own.

CORE THEME 3: Living in the wider world:

• L30. About some of the skills that will help them in their future careers e.g. teamwork, communication and negotiation.

Peer Mediation also links with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, see below:

Year 4 and 5 pupils took part in an introduction lesson.  This introduced Peer Mediation.  Pupils who shared an interest in the role, prepared a class speech and followed the Democracy principle of the British Values to hold a fair and democratic election.

Meet the Peer Mediator Team.

These pupils completed 3 days training, which was dynamic, engaging, fun and hard work! The children absorbed a huge amount of information, as well as developed range of skills.  These skills will now be utilised, on a timetabled basis, to provide Peer Mediation during playtimes and lunchtime.

To start the training, the pupils identified the qualities of a Peer Mediator.  See the posters below:

During the training, the Peer Mediators explored blame language and practised removing this when mediating a conflict.  See the list of blame language below:
 

Blame Language

• Mind Reading
  • You did it on purpose.
  • You did it to hurt me.
  • You did it to get me into trouble.

• Total Blame
  • It’s all their fault.
  • They started it.
  • You did it.

• Generalising
  • You always…..
  • You never…..
  • You constantly…..

• Judging
  • You’re a cheater.
  • You’re a liar.
  • You’re a snake.
  • You’re two faced.

As part of the training, listening skills were practised.  The acronym below helped the Peer Mediators remember what good listening looked like.

Listening Skills

Sit up

Look

Ask and answer

Nod

Track

The Peer Mediators have a set script to support the mediation process.  However, there are times when off script questions may be needed.  Examples of these are below:

• Can you repeat that please?
• Can you say that again?
• Is that exactly what the other person said?
• Can I make a suggestion?
• When?
  • When are you going to say sorry?
  • When are you going to play together?
  • When are you going to return their possession?
• How long?
  • How long are you going to stay away from each other?

Overall, our Peer Mediators need the following to be successful:

• Trust:
• Support
• Kindness

We hope that if you ever need Peer Mediation, you will find the team professional, supportive and kind.  We also hope that you will treat the Peer Mediators with the same respect.

Remember: They have volunteered for this role.