Wellbeing
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces.
As a school we have ensured that a member of our staff, (Designated Safeguarding Lead) known as a Key Adult, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
What is Operation Encompass?
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass has been established to help schools provide in-school support to children who have been present at, exposed to or involved in any domestic abuse incident.
We know that children can be significantly harmed, physically and/or emotionally, during these situations, and that it also negatively affects their learning and behaviour in class.
Therefore, as part of the Operation Encompass procedure, and to help mitigate the resulting negative impact, the school will now receive a confidential phone call or email from West Midlands Police before 9am the morning after a child or young person has been witness to, or involved in, any reported domestic abuse incident.
Here at St Gerard’s, we have a dedicated and child-focussed Safeguarding Team. We always endeavour to offer the best support possible to our pupils and believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
More information can be found on the Operation Encompass website
Mental Health Support
St Gerard’s Catholic Primary School seeks to ensure that every member of the community can believe and achieve.
We are all aware that positive mental health is key to believing and achieving and we are committed to ensuring that an ethos of positive mental health is at the heart of all that we do.
Good mental health is an important part of healthy child development. It helps children build positive social, emotional, behaviour, thinking and communication skills. It also lays the foundation for better mental health and wellbeing later in life.
Please click on the links below for help and advice on improving and promoting good mental health:
- The Mental Health Foundation: The Anxious Child Booklet
- Childline: Calm Zone
- BEP: Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
- NSPCC: Children’s Mental Health Support
- Caring Minds – Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Charity
Online Safety
Online safety is a shared responsibility between parents and schools, and it helps to start with simple, practical steps that suit primary-aged children. At St Gerard's Catholic Primary, we encourage families to talk openly about what children do online, who they speak to, and how they feel when something seems confusing or upsetting. Please help your child use age-appropriate sites and apps, keep personal details private, and remember that anything shared online can be seen or saved by others. Agree clear family rules for screen time, passwords, and permissions, and regularly review your child’s activity together. If your child encounters harmful content, unwanted messages, or worries about a contact, encourage them to stop, tell you straight away, and report the issue on the platform. For further support, use the school’s guidance and trusted online safety resources, and feel confident that reporting concerns early helps protect children and builds safer habits for the future.
- BBC Own It – a place to help you boss your life online.
- Childnet International – for primary children.
- Childnet International – for teachers and professionals.
- Internet Matters – a guide to help you through the many issues children can experience when using the internet.
- Internet Watch Foundation – the UK Hotline for reporting criminal online content.
- Meta (Facebook) Safety Centre – guides to Facebook settings.
- NSPCC: Keeping Children Safe Online – support for parents and carers from the NSPCC.
- Report Online Terrorist Material (gov.uk) – report illegal terrorist information, pictures or videos you’ve found on the internet. Your report will be treated anonymously.
- UK Safer Internet Centre: Parental Controls – how to set up parental controls offered by your home ISP.
