Child Safeguarding Statement

Loreto Primary School Rathfarnham 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 Loreto 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    Sr Maria Hyland

The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Mrs Olivia O Connor

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 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-

• 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; and
• 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 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 these procedures.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 8^th March 2018 and was reviewed and adopted again in 2019 and reviewed again on 4^th March 2020 and will be reviewed in March 2021.

 

Chairperson of Board of Management  4^th  March 2021

Principal  4^th March 2021

Date of next review:  4^th March 2022

 

Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

of any potential harm in Loreto Primary School, Grange Road, Rathfarnham

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 of Management 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 panel in door including Principal’s Office
Care of children with special needs, including intimate care needs	High	Harm by school personnel	Policy on intimate care.
Toilet areas	High	Inappropriate behaviour	Usage and supervision of children
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	High	Injury to pupils and staff	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
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
Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils	Med	Harm from other pupils, unknown adults on the playground Traffic on avenue Inappropriate behaviour	Arrival and dismissal Policy & Procedures Supervision Policy Teachers/SNAs Traffic Management Procedures in place Health & Safety Policy
Recreation breaks for pupils	High	Injury to pupils/Bullying Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Policy & Procedures in place Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Classroom teaching	Med	Harm from other pupils. Harm to teacher/SNA	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Outdoor teaching activities	High	Injury to Pupils	Policy & Procedures in place Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Sporting Activities	High	Harm by school personnel In jury to pupils	Policy & Procedures in place Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Choir	Med	Injury to pupils by another pupil	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Sports Coaches	Med	Harm to pupils	Policy & Procedures in place Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour   Garda Vetting
Students participating in work experience	Low	Harm by student	Work experience Policy Child Safeguarding Statement.
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
Educational Trips/Matches	High	Harm by school personnel Injury to pupils by another pupil	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour   Garda Vetting
Use of toilet	High	Inappropriate Behaviour	Usage and supervision policy
Changing for sport activities	High	Inappropriate Behaviour	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Annual Sports Day	High	Injury to pupils by another pupil Injury to pupil	Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour
Use of off-site facilities for school activities			Educational Trips Policy
Volunteers/Parents	Med	Harm to pupils	Vetting Procedures Policy for Parents/Volunteers
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
Administration of First Aid	High	Harm to pupils	Administration of Medicine/ First Aid policy
Administration of Medicine	High	Harm to pupils	Administration of Medicine/ First Aid policy
Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils	Low	Possible Harm to pupils	All Bullying issues dealt with immediately no matter how trivial
Training of school personnel in child protection matters	High		Teachers all trained on Tusla and external Speakers
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
Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities and Special Needs	High	Injury to other pupils/ school personnel Inappropriate Behaviour	SNA’s are applied for children with SEN and require extra help. Toileting and intimate care are done according to Child Protection Policy
Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/ needs such as ·      Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants ·      Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) children ·      Pupils perceived to be LGBT ·      Pupils of minority religious faiths ·      Children in care ·      Children on CPNS	Med	Injury by pupils to other pupils / school personnel Inappropriate Behaviour Bullying	Code of Behaviour Child Protection Policy
Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school	High	Bullying Staff not following policies & procedures	ICT policy Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Behaviour
Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour , confiscation of phones etc.
Students participating in work experience in the school		Injury to Pupils Inappropriate Behaviour	Students not on their own with pupils
Student teachers undertaking training placement in school		Injury to Pupils Inappropriate Behaviour	Code of behaviour Child protection policy given to each student for TP Folder
Use of video/photography/other media to record school events		Placing videos on internet without permission	Permission always sought for taking photos/DVD/Video
Entrance Area	High	Unathorised people entering and injury to Staff and children	Gate locked and Keypad on gate
Car Park	High	Harm to Children	Letters advising parents no entry to lane in car at drop off and collection times painted lines defining pedestrian walkway

 

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 on 4^th March 2020 It will be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.

Chairperson, Board of Management      Date 4^th March 2021

Date 4^th March 2021

Principal

Date of next review March 2022