Safeguarding & Child Protection
Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility
At Pallister Park, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. Safeguarding is not a set of procedures — it is a culture, embedded in everything we do, every day.
All children, whatever their ability, gender, ethnic origin, social background or disability, have the right to learn in a safe, caring environment. Our school sets the highest expectations of all adults in ensuring that right is protected.
Our commitment
A safe school is a learning school
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development; ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
At Pallister Park, every member of staff — from classroom teachers to lunchtime supervisors — receives regular safeguarding training and understands their duty to act if they have a concern about a child. We operate a clear referral pathway, and no concern is ever considered too small to share.
Our safeguarding practice is guided by Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE), Working Together to Safeguard Children, and the statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education. Our full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is reviewed annually and is available to download below.
Designated safeguarding leads
Who to speak to if you have a concern
Every school is required by law to have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and at least one Deputy DSL. At Pallister Park, safeguarding responsibility sits with an experienced and dedicated team.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs L Felgate
DSL · Vulnerable Pupil Support Manager · Parent Support
Deputy DSL
Mrs H Adams
Deputy DSL · Safeguarding & Vulnerable Pupils · Head Teacher
Vulnerable Pupil Support
Mrs M James
Vulnerable Pupil Support Manager · Parent Support
To speak with our safeguarding team, call us on 01642 242174 or email pkcontactus@oc1st.co.uk
Reporting a concern
If you are worried about a child
Parents & carers
If you have a concern about your child’s welfare, or about another child, please contact school and ask to speak with Mrs Felgate (DSL) or Mrs Adams (Deputy DSL). You will be listened to, taken seriously, and supported.
Children & young people
If you are a child and something is worrying you — about yourself or a friend — you can talk to any trusted adult in school. You can also contact Childline for free, any time, on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk.
Urgent or immediate concern
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999. If you have an urgent concern outside school hours, contact Middlesbrough Children’s Social Care on 01642 726004. Out of hours: 01642 524552.
What safeguarding covers
Safeguarding goes beyond the school gates
Modern safeguarding recognises that risks to children do not stop at the school gates. Our approach covers a broad range of areas, and our staff are trained to identify and respond to all of them.
Online Safety
Child Abuse & Neglect
Contextual Safeguarding
Domestic Abuse
Mental Health & Self-Harm
Prevent & Radicalisation
Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy sets out our approach in full across all of these areas. It is reviewed annually in line with the latest statutory guidance and is available to download in our Policies section.
Safe adults around your child
Safer recruitment and the single central record
Every adult who works at Pallister Park, whether employed, volunteering, or contracted, has been subject to appropriate checks before working with children. This includes enhanced DBS checks, reference checks, identity verification and right-to-work checks, all recorded on our Single Central Record.
Our safer recruitment practices are in line with KCSiE and are overseen by our Headteacher and Our Children 1st Multi Academy Trust Board of Trustees. If you have a concern about the conduct of any adult working in our school, please contact our DSL, Mrs Felgate, or our Headteacher, Mrs Adams.
Our policy & external recognition
Recognised, reviewed and publicly accountable
Our safeguarding arrangements are inspected by Ofsted and reviewed annually by our Trust Board. Our 2024 inspection confirmed that our safeguarding culture is embedded and effective.
“Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. The school benefits from a wealth of skilled adults who support pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.”
Ofsted 2024
Our full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to download below. It should be read alongside our related policies on Behaviour, Anti-Bullying, Online Safety and Attendance.
External contacts
Middlesbrough Children’s Social Care
Emergency out of hours
Childline (children only — free)
NSPCC helpline
Police (non-emergency)
“It is better to be safe than sorry.” — and in safeguarding, acting on a concern is always the right thing to do.