St. Bodens’ National
School is a primary school providing primary 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
[insert school name] 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 Ezarah Doherty.
3
The
Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Linda McGonigle.
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.
5
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-
Ø
Has
provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding
Statement
Ø
Ensures
all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding
Statement
Ø
Encourages
staff to avail of relevant training
Ø
Encourages
Board of Management members to avail of relevant training
Ø
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 abovenamed 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 this statement.
·
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.
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 (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.
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.
This Child Safeguarding
Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on 05/03/18.
Signed: Michael Doherty Signed: Ezarah Doherty
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the
Board of Management
Date: 05/03/18 Date: 05/03/18