Helvellyn Road, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, SR2 9JJ

0191 5947962

office@hvi.org.uk

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Hill View Infant Academy

Believe and Achieve

We are an 'Operation Encompass School'. Information is available below.

Safeguarding at Hill View

Hill View Infant Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils, and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  We will provide and maintain a safe learning environment for our pupils, identify where there are child welfare concerns, and take appropriate action to address them in partnership with other agencies.

The protection of our pupils is the responsibility of all staff within our school, and is paramount in all areas of their education.

Together for Children and the Sunderland Safeguarding Children's Board (SSCB) have clearly defined guidelines that are followed by the school.

Our school is provided current termly Safeguarding training by Safeguarding First. We produce a termly action plans based on current guidance and key improvements. 

 

AIMS OF THE SCHOOL:

 

  • To recognise signs and symptoms of harm and abuse at the earliest possible moment
  • To respond to concerns through the appropriate agencies with due speed and consideration
  • To protect our children and staff

 

TO ACHIEVE THESE AIMS WE HAVE:

 

  • Identify and train designated staff - Mrs C Smith, Mrs T Crompton, Mrs C Scott, Mrs N Stockley, Mrs Gibson and Mrs A Gordon
  • Elected a member of the Governing Body to have specific responsibility for child protection and safeguarding issues - Mrs Sarah King
  • An up to date knowledge of Child Protection issues
  • Regular Child Protection training and are aware of the school and LA procedures and share with staff
  • Regular consultation with external agencies

 

The full Child Protection Policy is also available on the School Policies page

 

Operation Encompass

 

Key adults: Mrs Smith, Mrs Crompton and Mrs Scott 

What is Operation Encompass?

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in a domestic abuse incident. Following an incident at home, children will often arrive at school distressed, upset and unprepared for the day.

Sunderland City Council, Northumbria Police and nominated Key Adults in school will be working together to make sure that school staff are made aware of an incident early enough to support pupils in school.

Why is Operation Encompass being introduced in Sunderland?

Operation Encompass was initially launched in Plymouth in February 2011 to address a shortcoming in the early sharing of information with schools. Since then several pilots have been set up across the UK, including the North East, and has proved to very successful in providing appropriate support in a timely manner. Pilots across the UK have reported positive outcomes for many children and young people.

Sunderland City Council, Northumbria Police and all schools in the city are taking part in the scheme, to help provide additional new support which will benefit children and young people in Sunderland and improve multi-agency sharing of information.

How will it work?

Schools across Sunderland will nominate two members of staff who will be known as Key Adults. All Key Adults will attend specific training to the role in preparation for Operation Encompass.

Each morning a police officer will review all domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which might have had an impact on a child attending school the following day. Where children were present, witnessed or involved in a domestic abuse incident and aged between 4 and 16 years old, the officer will send this information to the Council’s Initial Contact and Referral Team who will then send this information in a secure format to the named Key Adult in the child’s school. The Key Adult will check their emails every day and the staff in contact with those pupils will then be in an informed position to support them in a way that is right for the child.

This information will be shared on school days during school term and, when incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or over a holiday period, the police will contact the Council the following Monday.

All parents will be sent a letter from their child's school informing them about Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass was launched in Sunderland in April 2017

For more information about Operation Encompass, please contact your school or visit http://www.operationencompass.org/

 

To view the letter to parents click here

 

Kidsafe

Kidsafe will be delivered to our reception children in January each year - before we begin running the program with the children, we will offer a session to provide parents with more information about the way the initiative works.

About Kidsafe:


Kidsafe UK is a registered charity (1105179) established in Cumbria. The purpose of the programme is to build children's confidence, self esteem and equip them with skills to keep themselves safe from various forms of abuse without shattering their innocence. The programme is age appropriate and delivered within the classroom by trained Kidsafe tutors, using KS (a puppet), games, singing and worksheets.

The programme consists of 5 separate sessions:

 Session One - Keeping Safe

Trust - Feelings (good/bad)

 Session Two - Yukky Feelings - feeling sad, scared or worried

 Session Three - Bullying (what it means and how to stop it)
Using your voice (to say 'NO' in uncomfortable situations) and How to identify trusted grown-ups

 Session Four - Keeping your private places safe, rules for keeping yourself safe and keeping secrets (good/bad)

 Session Five - keeping safe online, watching TV and playing video games

Each session includes a scenario involving KS in a situation that gives him yukky feelings. Children then work together with the tutors to come up with possible solutions or advice to help KS.

After each session children will take home a letter outlining what they have done in that day's session.

Once the children have completed the five sessions they are presented with a certificate. Three months later children will have a sixth session to re-cap main points from all five sessions.

Our Kidsafe tutor is Mrs Ridley

Look out for more information in the coming weeks via letter, text and on the website / app

 

Kidsafe blog 

 

coming soon...