Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment
Child Safeguarding Statement
St. Columb’s National school 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 St. Columbs’ 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 Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement
2 The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Mrs Helena Walker
3 The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Ms Kathryn Love
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:
The school will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
5 The following procedures/measures are in place:
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.
6 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.
7 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.
Ratification
This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on _________________ .
This Child Safeguarding Statement was reviewed by the Board of Management on________________.
Signed: ______________________ Signed: _______________________
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: ______________________ Date: ___________________
Written Assessment of Risk of St. Columb’s National School
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 St. Columbs’.
School transport arrangements including use of bus escorts
extra-curricular activities
- Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants
- Pupils of minority religious faiths
- Teachers/SNA’s
- Caretaker/Secretary/Cleaners
- Sports coaches
- External Tutors/Guest Speakers
- Volunteers/Parents in school activities
- Visitors/contractors present in school during school hours
- Visitors/contractors present during after school activities
Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school
Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school
Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching situation
All school personnel are provided with a copy of the school’s
Child Safeguarding Statement
The
Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017
are made available to all school personnel
Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017
and all registered teaching staff are required to adhere to the
Children First Act 2015
School Personnel are required to adhere to the
The school implements in full the SPHE curriculum
The school has a Health and safety policy
The school has a Special Educational Needs policy
The school –
The school has in place an ICT policy in respect of usage of ICT by pupils
The school has in place a Home School Liaison policy and related procedures
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.
Ratification
This Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment was adopted by the Board of Management on _________________ .
This Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment was reviewed by the Board of Management on________________.
Signed: ______________________ Signed: _______________________
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: ______________________ Date: ___________________
Examples of activities, risks and procedures
The examples listed in this document are provided to assist schools in undertaking their risk assessment under the Children First Act, 2015. Schools should note that this list of examples is not intended to be exhaustive. It is the responsibility of each school to ensure, as far as possible, that any other risks and procedures that are relevant to its own particular circumstances are identified and specified in the written risk assessment and that adequate procedures are in place to address all risks identified.
It is acknowledged that schools already have in place a range of policies, practices and procedures to mitigate the risk of harm to children while they are participating in the activities of the school and that some school activities will carry low or minimal risks of harm compared to others. In the context of the risk assessment that must be undertaken by schools, the Children First Act, 2015 refers to risk as “any potential for harm”. Therefore, it is important that, as part of its risk assessment process, each school lists and reviews all of its various activities (which shall include identifying those that may carry low risk of harm as well as those that carry higher risks of harm). Doing so will help the school to (1) identify, as required under the Children First Act, 2015, any risks of harm that may exist in respect of the school’s activities, (2) identify and assess the adequacy of the various procedures already in place to manage those risks of harm and (3) identify and put in place any such additional procedures as are considered necessary to manage any risk identified.
The Addendum to Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children published in January 2019 clarifies that organisations providing relevant services to children should consider the specific issue of online safety when carrying out their risk assessment and preparing their Child Safeguarding Statement.
The Guidance on Continuity of Schooling for primary and post-primary schools (April 2020) advises of the importance of teachers maintaining the safe and ethical use of the internet during distance learning and assisting parents and guardians to be aware of their role also. Schools should ensure that their Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) informs and guides remote or distance learning activity.
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.
Examples of School Activities
School transport arrangements including use of bus escorts
Care of any vulnerable adult students, including intimate care where needed
- Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants
- Members of the Traveller community
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) children
- Pupils perceived to be LGBT
- Pupils of minority religious faiths
- Children in care
- Children on CPNS
- Children with medical needs
- Teachers/SNA’s
- Caretaker/Secretary/Cleaners
- Sports coaches
- External Tutors/Guest Speakers
- Volunteers/Parents in school activities
- Visitors/contractors present in school during school hours
- Visitors/contractors present during after school activities
Examples of Risks of Harm
Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school
Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching, counselling, coaching situation
Examples of Procedures to address risks of harm
All school personnel are provided with a copy of the school’s
Child Safeguarding Statement
Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017
are made available to all school personnel
The
Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017
and all registered teaching staff are required to adhere to the
Children First Act 2015
and it’s Addendum (2019)
School Personnel are required to adhere to the
The school implements in full the Wellbeing Programme at Junior Cycle
Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools
The school undertakes anti-racism awareness initiatives
The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s
The school has a Health and safety policy
The school has a Special Educational Needs policy
The school –
The school has in place a Home School Liaison policy and related procedures
The school has in place a policy and procedures for one-to-one counselling
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