How IRIS Adapt Supports Restorative Practices and Crisis Interventions in PRUs

Helping PRUs Build Stronger Relationships, Manage Risk, and Improve Outcomes

In Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), where students often face complex emotional and behavioural challenges, creating a supportive and responsive environment is essential. Restorative practices — focused on building, maintaining, and repairing relationships — are a vital part of this. They help foster trust, accountability, and empathy, while also providing a structured approach to resolving conflict.

At the same time, PRUs must be equipped to handle crisis situations swiftly and safely. Whether it’s managing high-risk behaviour or preventing escalation, having the right tools in place can make all the difference.

That’s where IRIS Adapt comes in. It’s a flexible, customisable platform that helps PRUs document, track, and evaluate both restorative practices and crisis interventions. Here’s how it supports staff and students every step of the way.

Restorative practices in PRUs aren’t just about managing behaviour—they’re about helping pupils learn from experiences, take responsibility, and re-integrate positively into their community. IRIS Adapt strengthens this approach through:

Supporting Restorative Practices

1. Customisable Incident Forms for Restorative Detail

IRIS Adapt allows PRUs to tailor incident forms to capture key restorative information, including:

  • Who was affected by the incident
  • The harm that was caused
  • What was discussed in the restorative meeting
  • Agreed actions or next steps

By documenting the full process, PRUs ensure consistency and transparency, while embedding restorative approaches into everyday practice.

2. Facilitating Reflection and Follow-Up

After an incident, staff can log pupil reflections, such as:

  • How the pupil felt about the event
  • How they plan to make amends
  • What support they may need

This empowers pupils to take ownership of their behavior and supports their personal development. It also adds meaningful pupil voice into behavior tracking.

3. Tracking Restorative Outcomes

Restorative actions—like apology letters or peer support meetings—can be tracked and monitored. PRUs can evaluate their impact over time, helping to evidence the effectiveness of restorative work during Ofsted inspections or external reviews.

Supporting Crisis Interventions

In high-pressure situations, PRUs need clear, reliable systems to manage crisis interventions. IRIS Adapt provides essential tools for safely navigating and learning from these events.

1. Recording Triggers and Interventions

Staff can log:

  • Known triggers and early warning signs
  • Specific interventions used, such as de-escalation techniques or time-outs

Over time, this builds a clear picture of what works for each pupil, enabling the creation of personalised risk reduction plans based on real data.

2. Automated Alerts and Safeguarding Flags

For serious incidents—like injuries, absconding, or weapon possession—IRIS Adapt can send instant alerts to senior leaders or safeguarding teams. This ensures a rapid response and supports multi-agency coordination when needed.

3. Crisis Plan Documentation

Pupils’ profiles can include linked crisis plans or positive handling plans, giving staff instant access to guidance during high-risk situations. This supports legal compliance and ensures proper documentation for incidents involving physical intervention or emergency measures.

Analytical Insights for Prevention

Beyond managing individual incidents, IRIS Adapt offers powerful analytics to help PRUs spot trends and prevent future issues. Staff can easily identify:

  • Peak times for crisis incidents (e.g., lunch, transitions)
  • High-risk pupils who need extra support
  • Gaps in staff training or intervention effectiveness

These insights help PRUs take proactive steps—reducing the likelihood of crises and improving overall pupil outcomes.

In Summary

By supporting restorative practices and crisis interventions, IRIS Adapt helps PRUs create a safer, more supportive environment where pupils can thrive. Its customisable tools empower staff to respond effectively, document thoroughly, and plan strategically—all while keeping pupil wellbeing at the heart of their approach.

Find out more: https://irisadapt.com/behaviour-software-for-pru/