Pirate FM has learnt a ground-breaking scheme to help children involved in domestic violence could be rolled out across Cornwall.

Operation Encompass lets schools know if something is wrong at home.

It has already helped 1,000 pupils in Plymouth and Torpoint.

If police are called to a domestic incident where children are present, a nominated key adult at the school - usually the head teacher or deputy head - will be informed prior to the child arriving at school

"The support offered by the key adult can either be silent or overt," said Sergeant David Carney-Haworth, the architect of the operation.

"It may simply be that a teacher will keep a careful eye on a child or, in more extreme cases, they may be met at the school gate to make sure they have the books they need, their PE kit or even dinner money."

Alan Fuller, Plymouth Council’s principal educational psychologist, said: “Operation Encompass is a rare phenomenon, a simple idea that it relatively easy to implement yet has made a very real impact on the lives of children and their families.

“I hear almost daily about children and young people whose needs are being viewed in a new context. Head teachers report that their understanding of the potential impact of domestic violence has enabled them to respond to children’s emotional and behavioural needs more effectively.”

Now the people behind the scheme are hoping that it can be adopted in the rest of Cornwall before it goes nationwide.