Child Protection

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.

  1. 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
  2. The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is John Egan
  3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Yvonne Ruddy
  4. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.



  1. List of school activities

 

  1. Daily Arrival and dismissal of pupils
  2. Recreation for pupils
  3. Administration of medicine
  4. Classroom teaching
  5. One-to-one teaching
  6. Sporting activities
  7. School Outings
  8. School trips involving an overnight stay
  9. Use of toilets / changing areas / showers in school
  10. Annual Sports Day
  11. Use of off site facilities for school activities
  12. School transport arrangements
  13. Care of children with Special Educational Needs (including intimate care where needed)
  14. Management of challenging behaviour amongst pupils including appropriate use of restrai where required
  15. Curricular provision in respect of SPHE, RSE and Stay Safe
  16. Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils
  17. Training of school personnel in child protection matters
  18. Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum
  19. Use of external personnel to support extra curricular and sporting activities
  20. Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities / needs such as pupils from ethnic minorities migrants / members of the Traveller Community, Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, or Transgende (LGBT) chidlren and children perceived to be LGBT and pupils from minority religiou faiths and of no religion, and pupils in care.
  21. Recruitment of school personnel including teachers, SNA’s, caretakers, secretary, cleaner and external tutors and guest speakers, volunteer parents at school activities, visitors contractors present in the school during school hours
  22. Use of IT by pupils in school
  23. Applications of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including detention

confiscation of phones

  1. Secondary students participating in work experience in the school
  2. Student teachers undertaking training placement in the school
  3. Use of video / photography / other media to record school events
  4. After school use of school premises by other organisations

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 –

  1. 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)
  2. Risk of harm due to bullying, rough play. access to outside areas. Risk of children choking on food while eating their lunch.
  3. Risk of harm due to medical issues and access to medication unsupervised.
  4. Children at risk if left unsupervised.
  5. Risk to child on their own to abuse and to a teacher of a false allegation
  6. Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship / communications between a child and another child or adult.
  7. Risk of abuse of child by supervisor / instructor not employed by the school.
  8. Risk of abuse of a child and / or an unfounded allegation made against a staff member.
  9. Risk of abuse of a child or unfounded allegation made against a staff member.
  10. Risk of strangers accessing the premises and risk of children leaving the premises
  11. 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.
  12. Parents bringing children in their car to school matches.
  13. Risk of accusations for staff and loss of privacy for child. Risk of child being touched inappropriately.
  14. Child could be injured if inappropriately handled. Accusations against staff.
  15. Children may not be mature enough to process and speak about bodily changes and this may cause upset and embarrassment.
  16. Child may experience heightened anxiety if the bullying isn’t noticed or reported.
  17. Children may be at risk if staff didn’t have an understanding of the different forms of abuse.
  18. Inappropriate conversations
  19. Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship / communications between child and adult
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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
  23. 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.
  24. Work experience (TY) students harming our pupils. Potential for allegations from, or harm coming to the students participating in work experience.
  25. Student teachers harming ur pupils in some way
  26. Bullying resulting from pictures / videos shared on social media platforms.
  27. Harm coming to young people on the school premises. Injuries occuring on the premises

BB.Risk of accidents

  1. 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 –

  1.  
  1. Children cannot enter the school grounds until 8.45 am when staff supervision starts. The gates are open each morning just before 8:45 am by staff. The staff have designated points (gates and doors) to be on duty. All class teachers are in their classrooms waiting for the children to arrive. SNA’s are on duty from 8:45 am to look out for specific children with additional needs and ensure they get safely into class. Staff supervise the yard until their class leave the premises at dismissal time. 

 

  1. Procedures are drawn up and agreed by all staff. All teachers lead classes to yard at break time and remain there until supervising teacher takes over. Yard duty roster is created by Ms. Ruddy. Teachers and SNA’s are supervising on yard at break time. There are 11 SNA’s and 4 teachers supervising at every break. All wearing Hi Viz. Children must get permission from a staff member to use the toilets outside room 17. They must return to a staff member when they are finished. 6th class helpers wait at the exit door to corridor D when younger children (Infants- 1st class) are going to the toilet. On wet days SNAs’ stay with their class, the teachers monitor a number of classes from the corridors with the help of 6th class pupils who are present in classes from 5th class down who do not have an SNA present. Children cannot eat their lunch unless the teacher is present.

  1. Any medication administered will be prescribed. Indemnity form will be completed by parents, returned to Ms Ruddy and filed. Teacher administering medication will be trained to do so. 

  1. Class teachers cannot leave children unsupervised in their classes. 

  1. All classrooms and SET rooms’ doors have a window. Teachers leave their door open if they are teaching on a 1:1 basis.

  1. Outside coaches garda vetted.

  1. Staff will remain with children supervising them on school outings.

  1. Two staff member will supervise the girl’s room at night. Two staff members will supervise the boy’s room at night.

  1. Intimate Care Policy – separate policy to be reviewed at later date.

  1. Management ensure that the pupils are properly supervised.

  1. Staff supervision at all times. Ensure vetting of any persons working/contracting for the school. Photographer is made aware of the child safeguarding policy. He is garda vetted. Ensure children have one area to change in swimming pool so that supervising school staff know where all children are. Increase supervision on trips.

  1. Purchased booster seats. Check parents and staffs have car insurance that covers them to bring children in a car. Compiled a list of parents who have been vetted and are willing to volunteer in the school/on trips. The school has a Health and Safety policy.

  1. 2 SNAs to change a child, if not available then the door is to be kept open.

  1. Some staff members are trained in MAPA (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression) – staff are aware of who is trained.

  1. Adhere to the curriculum guidelines. Send home the school/home link from the RSE book in relation to sensitive topics.

  1. Anti-bullying policy is in place. Anti-bullying rules are on posters hung around the school. Anti-bullying rules are taught to the children in term 1. Anti-bullying surveys are carried out in classes where there is suspicion or allegations of bullying.

  1. Designated liaison person John Egan. Deputy Designated liaison person Yvonne Ruddy received child protection training. All staff members completed the necessary child protection training on-line. New staff members must show evidence of Child Protection training.

  1. Ensure the visitor is garda vetted. All visitors must identify themselves on arrival and wear a lanyard.

  1. Ensure the visitor is garda vetted. All visitors must identify themselves on arrival and wear a lanyard. No visitor will be left alone with a group or class of children.

  1. The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. The school implements in full the SPHE Curriculum. The school has a yard/playground supervision policy to ensure appropriate supervision of children during, assembly, dismissal and breaks and in respect of specific areas such as toilet and changing rooms etc. 

  1. All staff/volunteers are Garda vetted. All staff appointed will be reference checked. All visitors must identify themselves on arrival and wear a lanyard. Compiled list of parents who have been vetted and are willing to volunteer in the school/ on trips. The school gates are monitored and locked by Terry to ensure no unidentified personnel enter the school grounds. Parents of school/Wombles children have been notified regarding correct procedure for entering the school building.

  1. Mobile phones are prohibited in the school. Online safety talks have been implemented. The school follows the SPHE ‘Stay Safe’ programme/policy. School personnel are Garda vetted.

  1. School has a Code of Behaviour.

  1. Students are Garda Vetted. TY students must be 16 years of age which legally means they can be Garda Vetted. Work experience students are not left unaccompanied with pupils. As students are participating in work; normal school Health and Safety procedures are adhered to. 

  1. Student teachers are Garda vetted.

  1. Parental permission is required for images to be shared on school social media. Instruct parents not to share pictures/videos on their own Social Media platforms

  1. CSS are sought from private concerns. We ensure premises are fit for purpose and staff identify risks and report. Any staff who rent rooms for activities will be covered by Scoil Mhuire’s CSS- they must adhere to the procedures outlined in this risk assessment.

  1. We ensure premises are fit for purpose and staff identify risks and report. Principal and caretaker do regular ‘walkabouts’ and identify any hazards, take timely and appropriate actions to eliminate risk.
  2. Children will always go in pairs or in threes to go on a message to the office. If a child is going home early they will be accompanied by 2 others so that pair can return together to their class. Any child collected early will be signed out by the adult collecting them. 

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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