Mrs Hart
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Safeguarding
Whitkirk Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and well-being of all our children and adults.
One of our prime responsibilities is to ensure that all our children are safe at home and at school. We ensure this by making safeguarding everyone’s responsibility: staff, parents, visitors and children.
At Whitkirk, we work together to provide a safe environment that enables our children to flourish and succeed. If you have any concerns please tell someone.
There are numerous policies in place to safeguard our children and to ensure that there is a consistent approach to safe practices throughout our school.
Meet the team
Mr W Sadler
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead
Miss G Quarmby
Designated Safeguarding Officer and Headteacher
Mrs A Downes
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Mrs E Audsley
Learning Mentor (Attendance)
Miss L Emery
Assistant Headteacher, EYFS Leader & RLE Teacher
Our Trust Safeguarding Lead is Mr Andy Beecroft
Safeguarding governor – Ms Jen Beckett
Policies
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Child Protection: All staff receive regular training. The school has a Designated Governor for Safeguarding. The child protection policy can be viewed on the Policies page.
Attendance: Children’s attendance at school is monitored on a daily basis and notable absences or patterns of absences are followed up by Mrs Audsley, our Learning Mentor and Attendance Officer. It is parents/ carers responsibility to contact school via the attendance line to report absences. Absences cannot be authorised via Class Dojo.
Behaviour: High standards of behaviour are expected in school. However, we know children do fall out from time to time. This will be dealt with sensitively by an adult and the children will be given time to explain what the problem is and helps the issue to be resolved. In school we follow ‘Green is the Goal’. Children are actively aware of how our six school values works in our school and why it is in place. Enabling everyone to be happy and keep safe. We do not tolerate bullying at Whitkirk Primary School and work hard with children, parents and staff to ensure that any instances of bullying which may occur are resolved or dealt with swiftly. All staff adhere to our Anti-Bullying policy. This ensures that parents can have confidence that any allegations of bullying will be taken seriously, investigated where necessary and that they will be receive feedback within 48 hours. Children are educated about what constitutes bullying and understand the importance of the words: Several Times On Purpose- STOP
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E-Safety: All children in school receive regular teaching about E-Safety as part of their computing sessions and in any area of the curriculum where they will be using a computer.
Health and Safety: Everyone has a responsibility to ensure children and adults are able to work in a healthy and safe environment.
Complaints/Concerns: If you have any concerns about your child or any aspect of school life, please let us know so that we can help resolve any issues. No problem is too small and can often be prevented from becoming a bigger issue. Parents can: make an appointment to see your child’s class teacher or make an appointment to see a member of the Senior Leadership team who will always be happy to arrange to meet you. The school is committed to working closely with parents/carers for the benefit of the children. If you feel anissue has not been resolved to your satisfaction then you could contact the chair of the governing body, Ian Foy, who can be contacted through the school office.
Useful websites
Whitkirk Primary School is part of Operation Encompass, which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and local police forces.
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.
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. On 24 May 2024 Royal Assent was granted to The Victims and Prisoners Act. The Act placed Operation Encompass into Law. This places a statutory obligation on police forces to share Operation Encompass notifications with schools and educational settings.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this partnership is very beneficial and supportive for all those involved.
NSPCC
Dedicated and confidential NSPCC helpline to report Abuse in Education 0800 136 663 or email at help@nspcc.org.uk
Childline
If you are a child: NSPCC Childline 0800 1111 or Childline online. Click to view >
CEOP
If you have any concerns in regards to children receiving online abuse. Click to view >
NSPCC: Report Remove Tool
Report Remove tool whereby children, young people and adults can report nude images of them that are circulating social media and ensure they are taken down
Samaritans
Whatever you're going through, call us free any time, from any phone, on 116 123. Click to View >
Leeds Domestic Violence Service
For any support dealing with domestic violence: 24hr helpline 0113 246 0401 hello@ldvs.uk Click to view >
Cruse Bereavement Care
For any support dealing with bereavement
ParentZone
Mental health support for families
Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership
Safeguarding children and young people means protecting them from harm, abuse or neglect.
