Safeguarding

Who are the Safeguarding Team?

Our Safeguarding Team

Mr Dyer is Wheatcroft School’s Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL).
He oversees all safeguarding processes across the school and ensures that every member of staff receives high-quality, up-to-date safeguarding and child protection training. Mr Dyer also leads on promoting a culture where pupils feel confident to share worries, speak to trusted adults and know how to access support.

Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leaders (DDSLs) are:

Miss M Glass – Inclusion Leader (SENCo)
Mrs A Kirby – Deputy Headteacher
Mr O Levett – Behaviour & Pastoral Lead

Together, our safeguarding team works in partnership to ensure that concerns are identified early, support is coordinated effectively, and the wellbeing of every child remains central to all decisions.

The Designated Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding is Mrs Thompson. Contact information for the Chair of governors is available from the School Office Manager on 01723 375704

Getting Help

	If parent/carers have any concerns about safeguarding children, please contact any of the staff above.
	Parent/Carers can also contact Social Care (01609 780780)
	Parent/Carers can also contact the Police (999 - emergency or 101) if they have concerns.
	Parents can also ring Early Help (Scarborough area) on 01609 534852
	For pupils, the NSPCC Childline number is 0800 11 11 Counsellors are available 24 hours a days 7 days a week.

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/services

Safeguarding at Wheatcroft CP School

At Wheatcroft Community Primary School, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels safe, valued and able to thrive. Our culture of vigilance, strong relationships and professional curiosity ensures safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, every day.

A Culture of Vigilance

We maintain exceptionally high expectations of conduct and professional responsibility. All staff are trained to recognise, record and respond to concerns promptly, no matter how small. We encourage a culture where speaking up is understood as a vital part of keeping children safe.

Children at the Centre of Decision-Making

Our approach is rooted in listening to children. We actively seek the voice of the child through daily interactions, pastoral support, pupil leadership groups and targeted interventions. Staff know pupils well and identify changes in behaviour, mood or attendance quickly, ensuring timely support.

Strong, Skilled and Confident Staff Team

All adults working in school receive high-quality safeguarding training, including contextual safeguarding, early help, online safety, and managing low-level concerns. Regular updates, scenario discussions and briefings ensure staff remain confident and consistent in applying safeguarding procedures.

Robust Systems and Transparent Practice

We use clear, secure systems for recording concerns and actions, ensuring timely follow-up and effective information sharing. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) team meets regularly to review cases, evaluate patterns and ensure support is coordinated and impactful.

Working in Partnership

We work closely with parents, carers and external agencies to ensure children receive the right help at the right time. Our early help offer is strong, proactive and personalised, with pastoral support available for children and families who may be experiencing difficulties.

Safe Learning Environment

Our curriculum teaches pupils how to keep themselves safe — online, in relationships and in the wider community. Children are encouraged to speak freely to trusted adults, and our safeguarding display boards highlight key messages and support routes in school.

Continuous Improvement

We constantly reflect on our practice, using training, audits, pupil voice and external guidance to strengthen our approach. We learn from national developments and local safeguarding priorities to ensure our provision remains responsive and effective.

Parents & Carers

Welcome to the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Parents and Carers Page. We hope this page will provide some useful information, advice and guidance about key ways to keep children safe, for parents, carers and wider family networks across North Yorkshire.

You will find information on key topics, links to local services that can provide additional support, along with national organisations, all with a range of useful information.

The North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

At North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership we are committed to sharing learning, resources, information and training for everyone across North Yorkshire in order to ensure that all children and young people are Safe, Happy, Healthy and able to Achieve in North Yorkshire.

Worried About a Child? Make a Referral

Where there are significant immediate concerns about the safety of a child, you should contact the police on 999

Everyone has a responsibility to refer a child when it is believed or suspected that a child:

Has suffered significant harm and /or;
Is likely to suffer significant harm and/or;
Has developmental and welfare needs which are likely only to be met through the provision of family support services (with the agreement of the child’s parent).

If your query is not urgent, please use the email address social.care@northyorks.gov.uk to liaise with the Customer Service Centre, and you will receive a response within 24 hours.

If you believe the situation is urgent but does not require the police, please call 0300 131 2 131 to make telephone contact. When prompted, say “children’s social care”. One of the advisors will be happy to support you.

If you believe that the child you are worried about is already open to Children’s Social Care, please contact the locality team directly:

Scarborough Town – 01609 534888
North Ryedale and Whitby – 01609 797280
Scarborough South, South Ryedale and Filey – 01609 533518
Selby – 01609 535633
Ripon and Rural – 01609 535212
Harrogate Town – 01609 535218
Craven – 01609 535471
Richmondshire – 01609 536737
Hambleton – 01609 534258

Should your call be outside of business hours (Monday – Friday / 9 am-5 pm), please still call

0300 131 2 131 to speak to the Emergency Duty Team (when prompted, say “children’s social care”).

Making a referral:

Professionals, families, and members of the public can report concerns for children or request support using an online form.

Referring a child in a professional capacity

Please use this form if you are referring a child in a professional capacity.

If you are a professional seeking advice prior to making a referral, you can access advice from a Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST) Social Worker via the professionals’ consultation line available between 10 am and 4 pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays) via 01609 535070.

Worried about a child?

For all other concerns about a child or children, let us know using our online form. Use this form if you are a family member, friend, neighbour, or a member of the public. If you need to, you can remain anonymous.

Report your concerns about a child

A written referral using the universal referral form can also be submitted in place of the online form. You must ensure that all relevant information, including parental consent or clear reasons why this has not been obtained, is provided to ensure that the referral can be progressed as effectively as possible. You will receive an acknowledgement of your contact being received. Should you not receive this, please follow up to ensure your information has been received.

To ensure you are using the most up-to-date universal referral form, please download the form below:

Universal Referral Form

NYC Children & Families Service: Early Help

Should you wish to speak with your local NYC Children & Families Service: Early Help in relation to a child, young person, or family who may require Early Help, contact:

Early Help East (Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale): 01609 534852
Early Help West (Harrogate, Craven, Knaresborough, Ripon): 01609 534842
Early Help Central (Hambleton, Richmondshire, Selby): 01609 534829

For further information and resources on Early Help in North Yorkshire, visit our dedicated Early Help Page.

To complete an Early Help Assessment, please download below, alongside the Early Help Strategy which provides an overview of what Early Help looks like in North Yorkshire:

Mental Health Support

If you have urgent concerns regarding a child or young person’s mental health, please call 111 and select the mental health option.

More information can also be found at https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/crisis-advice/

Healthy Child Service

Healthy Child Service for children 0-6 years old

Anyone who is expecting a child or has a child up to the age of 6 will have a named Health Visitor.

Parents and carers can contact their local 0-6 Health Child Service (Health Visiting Team) directly for information by calling 03003 030 916.

Professionals can also contact the service by calling 03003 030 916.

Healthy Child Service for children and young people 6-19 years old

The Healthy Child programme for older children is aimed at those children who:

need safeguarding support
need support for emotional well-being and resilience, and, alongside other local services, in reducing risk-taking in young people
are in care

Parents, carers, and young people can access the Emotional Wellbeing and Resilience Service for support and information by 03003 030 916.

For more information about the Healthy Child Service, visit:

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/education-and-learning/support-schools/healthy-child-service