What Can Schools Do About Domestic Violence

Learning to Respect

How can schools respond to violence?

Working in partnership with the non-abusing parent is the best way of protecting children in domestic violence situations.

Parental Responsibility – screen for domestic violence through establishing clear contact details and parental responsibility at enrolment stage for all pupils; this should bring up any child protection issues if you do not feel able to ask direct questions about domestic violence.

Partnership – where a child is residing in a refuge, work in partnership with the relevant organisation on child progress. Work with Social Services and other agencies involved with the family. Work in partnership with the non-abusing parent. You may need translation services to work with women whose first language is not English.

Risk Factors – when you know a child is living with or has fled domestic violence, be aware of times when that child may be more at risk. For example families are most at risk from the perpetrator just after they have fled domestic violence. Domestic violence often commences or increases in severity during pregnancy and the period just after birth is the most dangerous.

Practicalities – if you know a child has fled domestic violence be flexible about school start times until they get to know their new route. Remember they may not have their school uniform with them and will need time to collect this and other belongings including schoolbooks for example. Homework clubs can give children affected by domestic violence a safe place to do their work, and for those living in emergency accommodation, it may be the only place they have access to a desk and a quiet space. A buddy system in school to induct new pupils can help children make friends and settle in. This is important to children who may have had to change schools many times when fleeing domestic violence.

Report it! Domestic violence is always a risk factor for children, whether or not the child is being directly abused and should therefore always be reported to your Designated Child Protection Officer who will refer to Social Services.

Meetings – do not send correspondence/leave phone messages regarding concerns around domestic violence to a parent at home – you may put them at risk. Request a meeting at school instead on a neutral topic.

Confidentiality – ensure protection of the non-abusing parent by keeping the address, phone number and whereabouts strictly confidential. Ensure the child is picked up only by that parent, or by another adult only with advance and express permission of that parent.

Information Sharing – protecting children from harm legally overrides data protection legislation. Establish clear guidelines for passing on information concerning domestic violence in pupil records. (Hand held records can be useful). Update records regularly to keep staff informed.

Silence – break it! Talk about domestic violence and make school a safe space where children can discuss, disclose and ask for help. Display materials from local and national support organisations. (For requests for leaflets, posters and cards please contact Hounslow Community Safety Team : 020 8583 5383).

Introduce a school based dedicated counselling service, provided by non-teachers for your pupils or a peer mentoring scheme to help children disclose sensitive issues to staff.

Participate in the Learning to Respect Hounslow Domestic Violence Education Programmewhich provides training, resources and schemes of work for schools.

Contact Pattie Friend 020 8570 8547 Email:

Adapted from an information sheet for the CEA@ Islington Home Safe Programmewritten by Finn Mackay