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:
The school will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
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