Operation Encompass

Fishburn Primary School participates in Operation Encompass, a police and education information-sharing partnership which helps schools provide timely support to children who have experienced domestic abuse.

What is Operation Encompass?

Operation Encompass enables the police to share information with a child's school following a police-attended domestic abuse incident.

Children who see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse are recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.

Information shared through Operation Encompass enables school to understand that a child may have experienced a difficult or distressing event and to provide appropriate support.

How Does Fishburn Respond?

Information received through Operation Encompass is treated sensitively and confidentially and is shared only with appropriate safeguarding staff.

Following a notification, we consider the individual needs and circumstances of the child.

Support may include:

• providing a trusted adult for the child;
• offering additional emotional or pastoral support;
• making appropriate adjustments during the school day;
• monitoring the child's wellbeing;
• supporting the child to feel safe and secure; and
• working with parents/carers and other professionals where appropriate.

The purpose is not to question or investigate the child about what has happened. It is to ensure that school is informed and able to respond sensitively to the child's needs.

Our Key Adults

Operation Encompass information is received and managed by appropriately trained safeguarding staff.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mr Richard Parkin – Head of School

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Charlotte Sinclair – Assistant Headteacher / Early Years Lead

Safeguarding Children

Operation Encompass forms part of our wider safeguarding arrangements and does not replace our normal safeguarding procedures.

If information received raises additional concerns about a child's safety or welfare, these will be responded to in accordance with the Eden Academy Trust Safeguarding Policy 2026–27 and local safeguarding procedures.

If you are worried about domestic abuse or the safety of a child, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team.

School telephone: 01740 620162
School email: fishburnadmin@edenacademytrust.co.uk

Durham Children's Social Care – First Contact:
03000 267 979

If a child or adult is in immediate danger, call 999.