Safeguarding

The purpose of Lancashire Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, or witness to, a domestic abuse incident. Domestic abuse impacts children in a number of ways. Children are at increased risk of physical injury during an incident, either by accident, or because they attempt to intervene. Even when not directly injured, children are greatly distressed by witnessing the physical and emotional suffering of a parent. 

Encompass has been created to address this situation. It is the implementation of key partnership working between the police and schools. The aim of sharing information with local schools is to allow ‘Key Adults’ the opportunity of engaging with the child, and to provide access to support which allows children to remain in a safe but secure familiar environment.

Following the report of an incident of domestic abuse, by 9:10am on the next school day, the school’s Key Adult will be informed that the child or young person has been involved in a domestic incident. This knowledge, given to schools through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with all parents and governors, is detailed as part of the school’s Safeguarding Policy, and published on our school website.

At Skerton St Luke’s, the key Operation Encompass leads are Mrs Armistead and Mrs Walling-Lewis.

For more information about Operation Encompass please visit www.operationencompass.org. 

Before school parents (and younger siblings) should wait on the drive until the playground door is open at 8.45am.  Children are encouraged to walk into school from 8:45am; teachers are available to talk to parents at this time.  At the end of the day, parents are asked to remain on the drive until the bell goes, as this enables PE to take place on the playground and the children to get changed in their classrooms, without parents congregating outside the classroom windows or chatting, and thus distracting from the end of the lesson. Once the bell sounds at the end of the day, parents may enter the playground.  We would appreciate it if younger siblings could be supervised at all times.

Please do not access or leave the school at any time through the small gate on the vehicular drive. Signs do make this clear that access is for visitors and vehicles only. Children are in danger if they use this gate, even if accompanied by parents, as vehicles could be using the drive.

Children may come into school through the infant doors from 8:45am. Any parents arriving late must take their child to the main school entrance to gain admittance and sign their child in. The KS1/Reception door will remain closed, and no access is allowed.

Please refrain from sitting on any of the wooden fencing and please ask your children not to climb over it. 

No unaccompanied parents are allowed in school during session times.  All visitors must sign in and wear a badge.  We welcome visitors to the School Office and this should be at 8:55am, after the children have come into school.  If you have to leave promptly on the bell to get to work, then please feel free to visit the School Office between 8:45am and 8:55am.

KS2 children may leave the school grounds on their own at the end of the day if you have given your permission.  This is something between you and your child.  Staff supervise any children who were expecting to be collected and haven't been.  Please ring the school office if you are going to be late.  We ask parents not to take children home, i.e friends of their own children, if you haven't been asked to do so on any given day.  All uncollected KS2 children should return to the school office so parents can be contacted. 

This is an important safeguarding message.