Child Safeguarding Statement

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CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Bunscoil Sancta Maria Synge Street 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 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 Bunscoil Sancta Maria Synge St 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 Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement

The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Ms Victoria McQuaid

The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Ms Niamh McCumiskey

(Deputy Principal)

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 DES 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 DES and available on the DES 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; and
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 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, 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 attached as an appendix to these procedures.

The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be accessed via the school’s website, the DES website or will be made available on request by the school.

This statement has been published on the school’s website and has been provided to all members of school personnel, the Parents’ Association 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.

Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

(of any potential harm)

List of School Activities	Risk Level	The School has identified the following Risk of Harm	The School has the following Procedures in place to address risk identified in this assessment
Training of school personnel in Child Protection matters	High	Harm not recognised or reported promptly	Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staff DLP& DDLP to attend PDST face to face training All Staff to view Tusla training module & any other online training offered by PDST BOM records all records of staff and board training
One to one teaching	Med	Harm by school personnel	School has policy in place for one to one teaching Open doors Table between teacher and pupil Glass in window to see through
Care of children with special needs, including intimate care needs	High	Harm by school personnel	SNA to wait at door when child using the toilet. SNA to be visible at all times.
Toilet areas	High	Inappropriate behaviour	Usage monitored by staff, only 1 child to go at a time Supervision by SNA when required
Curricular Provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay safe.	Med	Non-teaching of same	School implements SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe in full
Managing of challenging behaviour amongst pupils, including appropriate use of restraint	Low	Injury to pupils and staff	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Positive Behaviour Anti-Bullying Policy
Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils	Med	Harm from other pupils Traffic on street	Arrival and Dismissal Procedures Supervision by class teachers at door Health & Safety Policy
List of School Activities	Risk Level	The School has identified the following Risk of Harm	The School has the following Procedures in place to address risk identified in this assessment
Recreation breaks for pupils	Med	Injury to pupils/Bullying Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Policy & Procedures in place Health & Safety Policy Code Of Positive Behaviour Pupil –Staff Ratio
Classroom teaching	Low	Harm by school personnel	Code Of Positive Behaviour
Outdoor teaching activities	Low	Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Code Of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio
Sporting Activities: Hurling, Cricket, Boxing	Med	Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Code Of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio First Aid Training and Kit Whole Staff Defibrillator Training
After School Clubs	Med	Harm to pupils	Code of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio First Aid Training and Kit Whole Staff Defibrillator Training
School Completion Activities Cooking, sewing,	Med	Harm to pupils, burns etc	Code of Positive Behaviour Open Doors Pupil – Staff Ratio Glass in door to look through
Music	Med	Harm to pupils	School has policy in place for one to one teaching Open doors Table between teacher and pupil Glass in window Code of Positive Behaviour
Play Therapy	Med	Harm to pupils	Garda Vetting Glass in door Parental Consent
Sports Coaches	Med	Harm to pupils	Garda Vetting Child Safeguarding Statement Teacher always present
Students participating in work experience	Low	Harm by student	Child Safeguarding Statement. Garda Vetting Teacher always present
Educational Trips/Matches	Med	Injury to pupils Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Code of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio increased Presence of SNA Mobile phones
Changing for sport activities	Med	Harm to pupils	Children wear tracksuits to school for sport Swimming has been relocated to Swan Centre Rathmines for their individual changing rooms. Pupil-Staff Ratio
Annual Sports Day	Med	Injury to pupils Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Health and Safety Policy First Aid Administration Code of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio
Use of off-site facilities for school activities	Med	Injury to pupils Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Educational Trips Policy Code of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio
School transport arrangements including use of bus escorts	Med	Harm to pupils Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Code of Positive Behaviour Pupil-Staff Ratio
Volunteers/Parents	Med	Harm to pupils	Garda Vetting Procedures Class Teacher present HSCL Teacher present
Administration of First Aid	Low	Harm to pupils	Signed consent by parents
Administration of Medicine	Low	Harm to pupils	Signed consent by parents
Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils	Med	Bullying Harm to pupils	Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Positive Behaviour
Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school	High	Bullying Staff not following policies & procedures	ICT policy Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Positive Behaviour
Student teachers undertaking training placement in school	Med	Harm to pupils	Garda Vetting Teacher always present
Use of video/photography/other media to record school events	Med	Harm to pupils	ICT policy Signed consent from parents
No hot drinks carried throughout the school	High	Harm to pupils	Health and Safety Policy
Tine to Read and Time to Count Volunteers	Med	Harm to Pupils	Garda Vetting Parental Consent Big numbers and door open
Campaí Samhraidh School Completion Camps School Based July Provision	Med	Harm to pupils	Garda Vetting Parental Consent Child Protection Policy Health & Safety Policy Anti-Bullying Policy Critical Incident Policy Healthy Eating Policy

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.

This risk assessment has been completed by the Board of Management of Scoil Sancta Maria Synge Street on 11/03/2020

It will be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.

Signed Mr Chris McGarry Chairperson, Board of Management

Ms Victoria McQuaid Principal

11/03/2020

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