Operation Encompass at Spark Vale Academy

Spark Vale Academy is part of Operation Encompass, a safeguarding initiative designed to improve outcomes for children and families affected by domestic violence and abuse.

Operation Encompass is a safeguarding protocol where schools are formally notified of any reported incident of domestic abuse at an address where a child is present or normally resident. It is run in partnership with the local police force.

All public agencies already share information where there are safeguarding concerns or a risk of harm to children. Through Operation Encompass, the police share information with schools about domestic abuse incidents so that children can be supported as early as possible.

At Spark Vale Academy, when a domestic abuse incident has been reported to the police during the school term and one of our pupils was in the household, the information is shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and/or the Headteacher.

This system is in place because domestic abuse in a household can have a significant impact on children, even if they do not directly see what has happened. A child may still feel worried, unsettled, tired, anxious or emotionally affected.

The information shared through Operation Encompass allows Spark Vale Academy to provide appropriate support to pupils in a timely and sensitive way. This may include pastoral support, emotional reassurance, regulation support or simply ensuring that trusted adults are aware that the pupil may need extra care during the school day.

All information is treated as confidential safeguarding information. It will only be shared on a strict need-to-know basis, for example with the Headteacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead or relevant members of the Senior Leadership Team who need the information in order to support the pupil safely.

At Spark Vale Academy, safeguarding is central to our work. Being part of Operation Encompass helps us respond quickly, sensitively and appropriately when a pupil may have been affected by domestic abuse.