Our school is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children who experience Domestic Abuse.

Operation Encompass is in place in every police force in England and Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day. The notification informs us about the context of the incident and includes the Voice of the Child.

Lonsdale's Key Adults are Miss Sarah Small, who is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and Mrs Claudia Thiele. Miss Small undertook Operation Encompass training on 24.04.2024 and Mrs Thiele undertook the training on 28.09.2024. The principles of Operation Encompass will be cascaded to all other staff at Lonsdale School.

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school, and we ensure that when a new child joins our school the parents/carers are informed about Operation Encompass.

The Operation Encompass notification is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.

The Key Adult /s will lead training for all staff and Governors about Operation Encompass, the prevalence of Domestic Abuse and the impact of this abuse on children. This may form part of our annual safeguarding training in the future.

As a school we will discuss how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification.

We have used the free Operation Encompass Handbooks to inform our thinking.

We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

The Safeguarding Governor will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Governors. All information is anonymised for these reports.

We have used the Operation Encompass Key Adult Responsibilities checklist to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.

If in the event either Key Adult leaves Lonsdale School and other staff are appointed, they will ensure that all Operation Encompass log-in details are shared with the new Key Adult(s) and that the new member of staff completes the Operation Encompass online training.