Scoil Mhuire Child Protection Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement
Scoil Mhuire is a primary school providing primary education to pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Addendum to Children First (2019), the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child
Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of Scoil Mhuire has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.
- The Board of Management has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement
- The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is John Egan
- The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Yvonne Ruddy
- The Board of Management recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and must be reflected in all of the school’s policies, procedures, practices and activities. In its policies, procedures, practices and activities, the school will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:
The school will:
- recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations;
- fully comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children;
- fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters;
- adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave themselves open to accusations of abuse or neglect;
- develop a practice of openness with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children; and
- fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.
The school will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
- The following procedures/measures are in place:
- In relation to any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation (howsoever described) in respect of any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child attending the school, the school adheres to the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 7 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and to the relevant agreed disciplinary procedures for school staff which are published on the DE website.
- In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children, the school adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and to the wider duty of care guidance set out in relevant Garda vetting and recruitment circulars published by the Department of Education and available on the DE website.
- In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training, to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) the school-
Has provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
Encourages Board of Management members to avail of relevant training
The Board of Management maintains records of all staff and Board member training
- In relation to reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla, all school personnel are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, including in the case of registered teachers, those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015.
- In this school the Board has appointed the above named DLP as the “relevant person” (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to be the first point of contact in respect of the schools child safeguarding statement.
- All registered teachers employed by the school are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015.
- In accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and the Addendum to Children First (2019), the Board has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the school or participating in school activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the school’s procedures for managing those risks is included with the Child Safeguarding Statement.
- The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be accessed via the school’s website, the DE website or will be made available on request by the school.
Note: The above is not intended as an exhaustive list. Individual Boards of Management shall also include in this section such other procedures/measures that are of relevance to the school in question.
- This statement has been published on the school’s website and has been provided to all members of school personnel, the Parents’ Association (if any) and the patron. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department if requested.
- This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed annually or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which this statement refers.
This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on June 9th, 2022.
This Child Safeguarding Statement was reviewed by the Board of Management on March 28, 2022 and June 9th, 2022
Signed: _________________________ |
Signed: ____________________________ |
Chairperson of Board of Management |
Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management |
Date: __________________________ |
Date: ___________________ |
Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment
Written Assessment of Risk of Scoil Mhuire
In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, the following is the Written Risk Assessment of Scoil Mhuire.
- List of school activities
confiscation of phones
BB.General use of school premises by all staff and children CC. Children circulating around the school outside of breaktimes e.g. on a message to the office or being collected early and have to go to reception. |
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2. The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities –
- Children entering the school grounds before supervision begins. Children with additional needs coming into the school grounds and getting confused with the large numbers of children entering at 8.45am. Making sure children go home with correct person. Children from classes younger than 3rd walking home alone (with permission from parent)
- Risk of harm due to bullying, rough play. access to outside areas. Risk of children choking on food while eating their lunch.
- Risk of harm due to medical issues and access to medication unsupervised.
- Children at risk if left unsupervised.
- Risk to child on their own to abuse and to a teacher of a false allegation
- Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship / communications between a child and another child or adult.
- Risk of abuse of child by supervisor / instructor not employed by the school.
- Risk of abuse of a child and / or an unfounded allegation made against a staff member.
- Risk of abuse of a child or unfounded allegation made against a staff member.
- Risk of strangers accessing the premises and risk of children leaving the premises
- Crossing the road to Lucan Utd pitch. Use of Dublin Bus – strangers, exposure to dangerous items. Photography and social media. Levels of supervision on excursions / trips. Risk at swimming pools.
- Parents bringing children in their car to school matches.
- Risk of accusations for staff and loss of privacy for child. Risk of child being touched inappropriately.
- Child could be injured if inappropriately handled. Accusations against staff.
- Children may not be mature enough to process and speak about bodily changes and this may cause upset and embarrassment.
- Child may experience heightened anxiety if the bullying isn’t noticed or reported.
- Children may be at risk if staff didn’t have an understanding of the different forms of abuse.
- Inappropriate conversations
- Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship / communications between child and adult
- Risk of harm due to bullying of child. Risk of harm to children with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities. Risk of harm in a one-to-one teaching, counselling or coaching situation.
- Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel. Risk of child being harmed in the school by a volunteer or visitor to the school. Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children while attending out of school activities. Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship / communications between child and an adult.
- Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school. Risk of harm caused by a member of school personnel accessing / circulating inappropriate material via social media, texting, digital device or other manner
- Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel. Risk of child being harmed in the school by another child.
- Work experience (TY) students harming our pupils. Potential for allegations from, or harm coming to the students participating in work experience.
- Student teachers harming ur pupils in some way
- Bullying resulting from pictures / videos shared on social media platforms.
- Harm coming to young people on the school premises. Injuries occuring on the premises
BB.Risk of accidents
- Risk of accidents or of getting lost and subsequently getting upset
3. The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment –
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Important Note: It should be noted that risk in the context of this risk assessment is the risk of
“harm” as defined in the Children First Act 2015 and not general health and safety risk. The definition of harm is set out in Chapter 4 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post- Primary Schools 2017
In undertaking this risk assessment, the board of management has endeavoured to identify as far as possible the risks of harm that are relevant to this school and to ensure that adequate procedures are in place to manage all risks identified. While it is not possible to foresee and remove all risk of harm, the school has in place the procedures listed in this risk assessment to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent.
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