Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to update you about our school’s participation in Operation Encompass. Operation Encompass is an early intervention partnership between Police and Schools. It is aimed at supporting young people who are victims of domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass is already established across all of England and Wales and is now coming to Northern Ireland. It is a very simple idea, but one that will help us to support and protect vulnerable young people. When the Police attend an incident of domestic violence where one of our pupils are present, they will inform the school’s Designated Teacher for Child Protection at the start of the next school day. This information is shared in strict confidence and school staff are only told on a need-to-know basis.

Following any notification from the PSNI, our staff will provide immediate support to any pupil who has been the victim of domestic abuse. We know that when young people do witness domestic abuse at home, this is a highly traumatic experience for them. By taking part in Operation Encompass, we can provide tailored and compassionate support to our students, in line with our School ethos. This builds on our existing commitment to child safeguarding.

Should you wish to find out more information, please contact the college’s Designated Teacher for Child Protection, Mrs Gillian McCotter, or alternatively you can read more about Operation Encompass at www.operationencompass.org.

Kind Regards


Sean McNamee
Principal

We are proud to announce that St. Paul's Primary and Nursery School has successfully achieved the School of Sanctuary award! We are extremely proud to be the first primary school in West Belfast to win the award!!

Schools of Sanctuary are awarded to schools that offer sanctuary to all their pupils, staff, parents and wider school community. St. Paul's has always been proud to offer a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community. We are proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all!

Everyone in St. Paul's has contributed in our work towards this award but special congratulations must go to our own Mrs. McCotter who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes helping us on our journey to becoming a School of Sanctuary.