Child Safeguarding Statement

School: Carlow Educate Together NS

Carlow Educate Together NS 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 Carlow Educate Together NS 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  Simon Lewis. 
  3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Emer Byrden or the acting Deputy Principal.
  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.

 

  1. 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 (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 9th February 2018 and is reviewed every year.

 

Signed: Ally Bunbury             Signed: Simon Lewis

Chairperson of Board of Management               Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management

 

Date: 25th October 2023                     Date: 25th October 2023

 

Appendix A. Checklist for Review of the Child Safeguarding Statement

The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 require the Board of Management must undertake a review of its Child Safeguarding Statement and that the following checklist shall be used for this purpose. The review must be completed every year or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the Child Safeguarding Statement refers.  Undertaking an annual review will also ensure that a school also meets its statutory obligation under section 11(8) of the Children First Act 2015, to review its Child Safeguarding Statement every two years.  

 

The checklist is designed as an aid to conducting this review and is not intended as an exhaustive list of the issues to be considered. Individual Boards of Management shall include other items in the checklist that are of relevance to the school in question.

 

As part of the overall review process, Boards of Management should also assess relevant school policies, procedures, practices and activities vis a vis their adherence to the principles of best practice in child protection and welfare as set out in the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement, the Children First Act 2015 and the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017.

 

  Yes/No
Has the Board formally adopted a Child Safeguarding Statement in accordance with the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’?  
As part of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement, has the Board formally adopted, without modification, the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’’?  
Does the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement include a written assessment of risk as required under the Children First Act 2015?  
Has the Board reviewed and updated where necessary the written assessment of risk as part of this overall review?  
Has the DLP attended available child protection training?  
Has the Deputy DLP attended available child protection training?  
Have any members of the Board attended child protection training?  
Are there both a DLP and a Deputy DLP currently appointed?  
Are the relevant contact details (Tusla and An Garda Síochána) to hand?  
Has the Board arrangements in place to communicate the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement to new school personnel?  
Is the Board satisfied that all school personnel have been made aware of their responsibilities under the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’ and the Children First Act 2015?  
Has the Board received a Principal’s Child Protection Oversight Report at each Board meeting held since the last review was undertaken?  
Since the Board’s last review, was the Board informed of any child protection reports made to Tusla/An Garda Síochána by the DLP?  
Since the Board’s last review, was the Board informed of any cases where the DLP sought advice from Tusla/and as a result of this advice, no report to the HSE was made?  
Since the Board’s last review, was the Board informed of any cases where an allegation of abuse or neglect was made against any member of school personnel?  
Has the Board been provided with and reviewed all documents relevant to the Principal’s Child Protection Oversight Report?  
Is the Board satisfied that the child protection procedures in relation to the making of reports to Tusla/An Garda Síochána were appropriately followed in each case reviewed?  
Is the Board satisfied that, since the last review, all appropriate actions are being or have been taken in respect of any member of school personnel against whom an allegation of abuse or neglect has been made?*  
Were child protection matters reported to the Board appropriately recorded in the Board minutes?  
Is the Board satisfied that all records relating to child protection are appropriately filed and stored securely?  
Has the Board been notified by any parent in relation to that parent not receiving the standard notification required under section 5.6  of the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’  
In relation to any cases identified at question 21 above, has the Board ensured that any notifications required section 5.6 of the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’ were subsequently issued by the DLP?  
Has the Board ensured that the Parents’ Association (if any), has been provided with the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?  
Has the Board ensured that the patron has been provided with the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?  
Has the Board ensured that the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement is available to parents on request?  
Has the Board ensured that the Stay Safe programme is implemented in full in the school? (applies to primary schools)  
Has the Board ensured that the Wellbeing Programme for Junior Cycle students is implemented in full in the school? (applies to post- primary schools)  
Has the Board ensured that the SPHE curriculum is implemented in full in the school?  
Is the Board satisfied that the statutory requirements for Garda Vetting have been met in respect of all school personnel (employees and volunteers)? *  
Is the Board satisfied that the Department’s requirements in relation to the provision of a child protection related statutory declaration and associated form of undertaking have been met in respect of persons appointed to teaching and non-teaching positions?*  
Is the Board satisfied that, from a child protection perspective, thorough recruitment and selection procedures are applied by the school in relation to all school personnel (employees and volunteers)?*  
Has the Board considered and addressed any complaints or suggestions for improvements regarding the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?  
Has the Board sought the feedback of parents in relation to the school’s compliance with the requirements of the child safeguarding requirements of the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’  
Has the Board sought the feedback of pupils in relation to the school’s child safeguarding arrangements?  
Is the Board satisfied that the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017’ are being fully and adequately implemented by the school?  
Has the Board identified any aspects of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and/or its implementation that require further improvement?  
Has the Board put in place an action plan containing appropriate timelines to address those aspects of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and/or its implementation that have been identified as requiring further improvement ?  
Has the Board ensured that any areas for improvement that that were identified in any previous review of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement have been adequately addressed?  

 

*In schools where the ETB is the employer the responsibility for meeting the employer’s requirements rests with the ETB concerned. In such cases, this question should be completed following consultation with the ETB.

 

 

Signed _____________________________________ Date ________________

 

 

Chairperson, Board of Management

 

 

Signed _____________________________________ Date ________________

 

Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management 

 

Appendix B: Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment carried out February 2018 – new risk assessment template has superceded this document please see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rb8U09OcHJyVY8oEPWa-QgRLfUYD8g3YH6g-l2BhXxw for latest risk assessment

 

a. Existing Policies

CETNS’s child protection policy is taken into account in any policy, whether it is specifically referenced in the policy or not.

 

b. Garda Vetting

It is the policy of Carlow Educate Together NS that all adults working with children in the school will be garda vetted with exceptions listed in 5(c)

 

c. Guest Speakers

Carlow Educate Together NS invites guest speakers, parents and other members of the community in the school. A teacher will at all times be in present during such visits.

 

d. One-to-one Teaching

At times, children are taken from class by a teacher for one-to-one teaching. All classrooms and support rooms have a window in the door to ensure that both the pupil and the teacher are protected. Where one-to-one teaching is happening is that the window is uncovered. Exceptions to this are listed in 5(n).

 

e. SNAs working with children

SNAs are responsible for certain children’s care needs. This can involve helping children with toileting, changing of clothes, etc. Two SNAs should accompany a child for any situation involving the removal of clothing, applying lotions or creams or other situations where the situation could be considered sensitive.Where this is not possible the door of the room being used will be kept open.

 

f. Multi-sensory Room

Adults must accompany children to the Multi-sensory room. Where in normal circumstances, two adults will go to the room, in some cases this is not possible.  In this situation, there should be no fewer than two children in the Multi-sensory room. (See 5(n))

 

g. Toileting

There are toilets in every classroom. However,, in cases where children are not in their classroom, when children require to go to the toilet, they must be accompanied by another child who should stand outside the bathroom. From infants to 4th class, children must go in pairs to the bathroom. No more than 2 children should be allowed leave a room to use the toilet at a time. In 5th and 6th class, due to children maturing, they are generally allowed to go to the toilet unaccompanied.  However, only one child is allowed out of the room at a time.  At break times, the teacher on duty is responsible for ensuring that only 2 children go to the toilet at a time and ensures that they return to the yard. If an adult is required to accompany a child to the toilet, another child must accompany them.

 

h. Collection of Children

The school keeps a list of adults who are permitted to collect children. If a parent/guardian wishes for another adult to collect their child, they should inform the school.

 

In accordance with the child protection guidelines of Children First, if a parent comes to the school to collect a child and a member of staff perceives that the child may be in danger, the staff member must allow the child to be taken by the parent but the DLP will be notified who will decide whether to call the Gardaí.  If this situation arises when the adult collecting is not the child’s parent, before allowing the child to be released, the child’s parent will be telephoned.

 

In line with our behaviour policy, at collection times no adult should approach a child in the school in an aggressive manner.

 

i. Pupil Attendance

In line with NEWB guidelines, attendance is recorded and monitored by the school daily and followed up accordingly. Every week, a care team meet to discuss any issues with attendance.

 

j. Restraint

Some children will require interventions that require physical restraint. While this is very rare, a number of staff members are qualified in the CPI technique which is a technique recognised as being safe and suitable by the Dept of Education and Science. Two qualified adults will utilise this method only where it is deemed absolutely necessary and this will be recorded in the incident file.

 

k. Swimming

All children going to the swimming pool should be able to change in and out of the clothes and to wash themselves. Carlow Educate Together NS staff members should not be asked or expected to change a child. While a Carlow Educate Together NS staff member is insured to be in the changing room with children changing, it is advised that two or more adults are in the room at that time.

 

l. Photography / Video

In line with our AUP (Acceptable Usage Policy), children should not be labelled or tagged on the school’s website or Facebook page. Parents/guardians have the right at all times to disallow photos of their child(ren) to be taken or used online or in any other way.

 

Photography or videoing is not permitted in the swimming pool or changing rooms. At concerts, adults are allowed to take photographs. However, any behaviour deemed to be suspicious will be reported to the DLP.

 

m. Outings

Children often go on outings throughout the year. There is a recommended minimum adult-pupil ratio of 16:1. 

n. Situations where window must be covered

In certain circumstances, the window of a room must be covered, i.e. Play Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and the Multi-Sensory Room. In such cases, any practitioner working with children in these rooms must be garda vetted and insured.

o. Distance Learning

Since the COVID19 pandemic, children are engaging in live distance learning, known as synchronous learning. This involves children using digital devices to engage with the school. The school, in general, takes the same position on online interactions as it does on offline interactions. If something occurs online that is a child protection concern, it will be treated in the same manner. It is impossible to predict all the risks; however, the following is recommended for all parties:

 


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