The programme which is already operational across the Downpatrick, Newry and South Armagh areas sees Police sharing information with schools where there have been instances of domestic abuse involving a child. This will allow officers to pass on relevant information to the school the child attends so that the right support can be put in place.

Operation Encompass is a partnership between the Safeguarding Board of Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Education Authority, and schools, aimed at supporting children who witness domestic violence or abuse in the home. If the Police attend a domestic abuse call where children are present, they will contact the child’s school before 9am the next morning to hare this information with their safeguarding team.

Across North Down and Ards, Lisburn, Craigavon, Banbridge and Dungannon, a further 325 schools are joining the programme before it is rolled out across all of Northern Ireland. This includes schools of all types – Nursery, Primary, Post-Primary, Special, EOTAS, Irish Medium and Independent Christian.

The staff and pupils of Rossmar School celebrated the opening of their wonderful new school for nursery, primary, post-primary and post-16 pupils on Wednesday 26 October, alongside Education Minister Michelle McIlveen, EA Chairperson Barry Mulholland and the Lord Lieutenant of Co. Londonderry, Alison Millar.

The fantastic new school includes two new Sensory Rooms, a Total Immersion Room, and a Soft Play Room, as well as hydrotherapy baths, a sensory garden and fully equipped outdoor playgrounds for all pupils.

Rossmar pupils also now have the opportunity to use a new Life Skills area, where they can develop vital skills, to encourage independence in preparation for life after school, as well as fully equipped rooms for Home Economics, Art, Music, Technology & ICT.