Operation Encompass

Our school is part of a project, which is run between Cheshire West and Chester schools and Cheshire Police.  The project called Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting of any domestic violence incidents that occur outside school, which might have an impact on a child in school.  This is done through a phone call to school following an incident.

The project ensures that at least one member of the school staff, known as the Key Adult, is trained to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence.

In this way, we aim to support each child who has been involved in, or witnessed, a domestic abuse incident.  At Highfield Primary School, our key adults are Ms Dowling, Mrs Hynes and Miss MacSween.  If they receive an Encompass call they will make sure that a person the child trusts is available to help – if the child needs this.  Most of the time this support is silent; keeping a careful eye on him or her and make sure the child has a calm school day. The confidential information is ordinarily not shared with all staff, just an agreement on how to help, if needed.

All schools have a duty to share any information with other organisations if they feel a child is at risk of being hurt. The Key Adults may contact other organisations.  This is described in our Child Protection policy.

The sharing of information from the Police allows the school to be ready to help your child straight away, and it means that parents are aware that the Key Adult knows that something has happened.  Parents can come and talk to one of our Key Adults.  The Key Adults can point you towards other people that can help.  Our aim is to support children and their families.

You can find out more about this initiative here: