Child Safeguarding Statement

Wandesforde National School is a Church of Ireland 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 Túsla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of Wandesforde National School 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 Mrs. Susan Peavoy

 

• The Deputy Designated Liaison Person is Ms. Davina Wilson

 

• 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/employee 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.
• The Board of Management maintains records of all staff and Board member training.

 

• In relation to reporting of Child Protection concerns to Túsla, 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 Túsla 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 March 9th 2018.

 

 

Signed: Rev. Patrick Burke         Date: 9^th April 2018

 

Chairperson, Board of Management

 

 

Signed: Davina Wilson               Date: 9^th April 2018

 

Principal (Acting)

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1: Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment of Wandesforde     National School, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.

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 Wandesforde National School

 

1. List of School Activities

Risk identified Potential risk of harm Procedure in place to manage risk identified Opening/Closing Times and Break Times Access to pupils by strangers or other adults. Traffic-access to school grounds Risk of harm from other pupils Flight Risk Glass Door CCTV Road Signs in the environment Adequate Supervision at break times   Visitors Visiting Tutors Teaching Practice & Work Experience Students Tutors behaving inappropriately. Unqualified / Without Vetting Tutors lacking awareness of child safety issues. Always Supervised Adequate Qualifications Visiting tutors from reputable organisations require appropriate vetting. Glass panels in doors. School Tours School Outings Transport Access to pupils by strangers. Flight Inappropriate activity by pupils. Dangers posed by unfamiliar environment Adequate supervision by teachers/parents Adequate planning and preparation by staff School Tour Policy Stay Safe Programme Trained Facilitators Used Access/Egress Access to pupils by strangers /other adults. Flight Risk Magnetic lock on entry double doors. Code changed regularly. IT Mobile Phones Social Media, Photographs on school website Potential for bullying. Potential for grooming of pupils Stranger Danger NCTE Framework in place Pupils are Supervised on school computers & tablets Pupils’ mobile phones handed to class teacher in the morning and returned at end of school day. Anti-Bullying Policy/IT Policy Photograph Consent Form from parents Pupil Photos not named on website Information sessions for pupils, parents and staff One to One Interactions with children through teaching, counselling & coaching First Aid Toilet Accidents Special Education Inappropriate behaviour/contact Stay Safe Programme First Aid Training Pupils remove own clothing in private Doors are left open Health & Safety Policy Glass Panels in Classroom Doors SEN Policy/Parental Consent Team Teaching Child Protection Training Special Needs Children Flight Risk Risk of Bullying Inappropriate activity of pupils/teacher Tutors lacking awareness of special needs children Adequate Supervision Code of Behaviour Policy Glass panels in doors SEN Policy   Classroom Teaching Risk of harm from other pupils Inappropriate activity by pupils Unqualified Teacher without vetting Risk of harm not being identified by school personnel Adequate Supervision Glass Panel in Doors Code of Behaviour Policy Adequate qualifications & appropriate vetting sought All school personnel given a copy of the School’s Child Safeguarding Statement Outside Service Providers Access to Pupils by Strangers Every effort is made to arrange appointments before/after school hours Adequate Supervision

 

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.

Threshold of Harm

…………… at which a registered teacher as a mandated person has a statutory obligation to report to Túsla under the Children First Act 2015 is reached when s/he knows, believes or has reasonable grounds to suspect that:

A child’s needs have been neglected, are being neglected or are at risk of being neglected to the point where ……

A child has been, is being or is at risk of being ill-treated to the point where ……

A child has been, is being or is at risk of being assaulted and as a result ……

……… the child’s health, development or welfare have been or are being seriously affected or are likely to be seriously affected…..

As all sexual abuse falls within the category of seriously affecting a child’s health, welfare or development, all concerns about sexual abuse must be submitted as a mandated report to Túsla.

 

 

 

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 in March 2018.  It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.

 

 

Signed: Rev. Patrick Burke         Date: 9^th April 2018

 

Chairperson, Board of Management

 

 

Signed: Davina Wilson               Date: 9^th April 2018

 

Principal (Acting)