Professionals
Setting Up A Service
When
Most schools have mediation sessions scheduled for lunch-time although some have had them after school or on occasions during class time e.g. in PSE lessons. Usually mediation take 20-30 minutes, so sometimes have to be carried on the next day if the process has not been completed depending on the length of lunchtime in the school.
Where
This depends on the availability of rooms in the school. It is recommended mediations take place somewhere quiet but near an adult so that if needed they are readily available.
Some schools have set aside a special office for mediators, others have used careers rooms, the library, an available class room, the playground.
How
Mediators work in pairs. Usually they are put into teams of 4 where 2 people are mediating and 2 are outside the room so that they can get help if it is needed. They can alsomake appointments, answer queries for anyone interested. Mediators could wear mediation as a way of identifying who they are.
There is a request form that students can fill out, this should be place somewhere convenient for students for example in form rooms, reception or the library. The students fill this out and return it either to a teacher, the mediators or a post box. The disputants are then given a time for their peer mediation session.
It is accepted that this is a difficult process if 2 people have fallen out or are in conflict with each other. We have found more mediations are the result of teachers having referred the students, suggesting they try mediation and if this doesn't work they can come back to them.
After a mediation session a follow-up appointment is offered just to check everything is going ok. This usually takes place 2 weeks after the session.
Mediators should be able to debrief following a session with someone from the co-ordinating staff team. Although mediation is confidential between peers a teacher will always know the nature and outcome of the dispute/mediation. Mediators should always be supported.