At Oaklands Primary Academy, the safety, wellbeing and emotional security of our children are always our highest priority. We are part of Operation Encompass, a national safeguarding partnership between police and schools.

What is Operation Encompass?

Operation Encompass is a system that helps schools provide support to children who may have been affected by a domestic abuse incident.

When the police attend a domestic abuse incident where a child lives, is present, or may be affected, they share information with the child’s school. This notification is usually sent before the start of the next school day so that school staff can provide the right support as soon as possible.

Why does this happen?

Children can be affected by domestic abuse even if they do not directly see or hear what has happened. They may arrive at school feeling worried, tired, unsettled or upset, and this can affect their learning, behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

Operation Encompass allows school to respond with care, understanding and sensitivity.

What happens when school receives a notification?

When Oaklands receives an Operation Encompass notification, the information is shared only with trained safeguarding staff, such as the Designated Safeguarding Lead or another appropriate senior member of staff.

We do not ask the child to talk about what has happened. Instead, we make sure that trusted adults are aware and can offer support in a quiet and appropriate way.

Support may include:

• a calm check-in with a familiar adult;
• additional emotional support during the day;
• flexibility with learning if a child is finding things difficult;
• careful monitoring of wellbeing;
• support at breaktimes or lunchtimes if needed;
• working with parents, carers or other agencies where appropriate and safe to do so.

Confidentiality

All Operation Encompass information is treated as confidential safeguarding information. It is recorded securely and only shared with staff who need to know in order to support the child.

The purpose of Operation Encompass is not to judge families or investigate incidents. Its purpose is to help schools respond quickly and compassionately to children who may need extra care.

Working together

We know that family life can sometimes be difficult, and we want all children at Oaklands to feel safe, supported and understood. Operation Encompass helps us to put support in place early, so that children are not left to manage difficult experiences on their own.

If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, or if you would like to speak to a member of staff, please contact the school office and ask to speak to a member of the safeguarding team.

Further information

Further information about Operation Encompass can be found on the official Operation Encompass website.

For further information, please see the Operation Encompass website: https://www.operationencompass.org/

10 Key Principles of Operation Encompass

Domestic Abuse Facts