Child Safeguarding Statement
Emo National School
Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment
Emo N.S. 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 Emo N.S. 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 Cyril Duggan
- The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Noel Costelloe
- 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 school’s 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 21st October 2021
This Child Safeguarding Statement was reviewed by the Board of Management on 21st October 2021.
Signed: Mary Dunne Signed: Cyril Duggan
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: 21st October 2021 Date: 21st October 2021
Child Protection – Assessment of Risk
In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirement of Chapter 8 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, the following is the Written Risk Assessment of Emo National School .
| List of school activities | Risk Level | The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities | The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment |
| Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils | Medium | Harm from older pupils, unknown adults on the playground | Arrival & dismissal supervised by Principal, teachers and SNA’s |
| Recreation breaks for pupils | Medium | Adults may enter the yard
Bullying |
Supervision Policy
Entry to the school is by permission only with use of specific doors |
| Classroom teaching | Low | Harm by school personnel
Harm by other pupils |
Glass panel in the doors
Other adults visit or are present Other children present |
| One-to-one teaching
|
Medium | Harm by school personnel | Glass panel in doors
Open door |
| Sporting Activities
|
High | Harm by pupils including bullying
Harm by school personnel Harm by adults |
Transport is arranged by each individual parent or group bus by school
Garda Vetting is required by all parents involved or providing transport Changing of gear takes place before the activity in the school Children wear gear underneath their tracksuits. Children must return to the school In-school activities are supervised by each class teacher |
| School outings/trips
|
High | Harm by pupils including bullying
Harm by school personnel Harm by adults |
Transport is arranged by each individual parent or group bus by school
Garda Vetting is required by all parents involved or providing transport Teachers supervise the changing of gear Children must return to the school Children must wear the school uniform |
| Use of toilet/changing areas in schools
|
High | Inappropriate behaviour
Harm from other children Harm from school personnel |
Supervision Policy
Toileting – one child at any time. In the case of children who need extra assistance 2 adults are present. The door must remain unlocked when assisting with changing |
| Dealing with an emergency sick child/toileting issue | High | Harm from school personnel
Harm by other children |
Supervision Policy
Code of Behaviour |
| Annual Sports Day
|
High | Inappropriate behaviour
Harm from other children Harm from school personnel Harm from a parent/adult |
Supervision Policy |
| Fundraising events involving pupils
|
High | Inappropriate behaviour
Harm from other children Harm from school personnel Harm from a parent/adult |
Supervision Policy
Code of Behaviour Anti-Bullying Policy |
| School transport arrangements
|
|||
| Care of children with special educational needs
|
High | Harm by school personnel
Harm by other pupils |
Supervision Policy
Anti-Bullying Policy |
| Management of challenging behaviour amongst pupils including appropriate use of restraint
|
High | Injury/harm to pupils and staff | Code of Behaviour
Health & Safety Policy |
| Administration of Medicine
|
High | Harm to school personnel
Harm to pupil/pupils |
Administration of Medicines Policy
Training arranged as required |
| Administration of First Aid
|
High | Harm to pupil
Harm by school personnel |
Health & Safety Policy
Doors must remain open Records kept in office |
| Curricular provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe
|
Medium | Non-teaching of content | School implements SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe in full |
| Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils
|
Low | Bullying | Anti-Bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour |
| Training of school personnel in child protection matters
|
High | Harm not recognised or reported promptly | Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to staff
DLP & DDLP to attend PDST face to face training module and all staff complete any online training offered by PDST BOM records all records of staff and Board training. |
| Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum | High | Harm by external personnel | All adults, visitors to the school and volunteers are properly screened and vetted.
The Class Teacher must remain with their class when supported by external personnel. All external personnel require Garda Vetting |
Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/ needs such as:
|
High | Bullying
Harm from personnel Harm from pupils Harm from adults |
Anti-Bullying Policy
Supervision Policy SPHE Programme taught in its entirety Code of Behaviour |
Recruitment of school personnel
|
High | Harm from personnel | Current vetting procedures are carried out when recruiting.
All existing school employees are vetted. All adults, visitors to the school and volunteers are properly screened and vetted. Proper records of vetting are stored in the school. |
| Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school | High | Harm by adults
Bullying – Cyber Bullying |
Anti-Bullying Policy
Restricted access to the internet and DES filtering system. Supervision Policy Training arranged for staff & information for parents |
| Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including detention of pupils, confiscation of phones etc. | Low | Harm by other pupils | Supervision Policy
Code of Behaviour Mobile Phones Policy |
| Students participating in work experience in the school | Low | Harm by student | Student must be supervised by the relevant teacher |
| Student teachers undertaking training placement in school | Low | Harm by student teacher | Student teacher must be supervised by the relevant teacher
Garda Vetting is required for all students |
| Use of video/photography/other media to record school events | High | Harm by adults
Bullying |
Parental permission is required
Only school camera/equipment is used Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Behaviour |
| After school use of school premises by other organisations | High | Harm by adults
Harm by other pupils |
Hire/Use of School Policy
Garda Vetting is required Supervision ratio Code of Behaviour |
| Use of school premises by other organisation during school day | High | Harm by adults
Harm by other pupils |
Glass panels in doors
Supervision Policy Garda Vetting Code of Behaviour |
| 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 initially in March 2018. It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.The annual review of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement was completed at the Board meeting of 21st October 2021.
Signed by: Mary Dunne; Chairperson, Board of Management
Date: 21st October 2021
Signed Cyril Duggan Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: 21st October 2021