Child Protection Policy of Crecora National School

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, practices and activities. Accordingly, in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Education and Skills’ Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools, the Board of Management of Crecora National School has agreed the following child protection policy:

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 as part of this overall child protection policy.

2. The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Catherine Tobin

3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Frances Barrett.

4. In its policies, practices and activities Crecora National 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 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 school policies school policies are particularly relevant to child protection. the Code of Behaviour and Anti-bullying Policy. These policies were reviewed by the staff and Board of Management and endorsed by St. Senan’s Diocesan Office in September 2011. They are available to view in the School plan and on the school website The following school practices are also particularly relevant to the Child Protection Policy: Supervision of pupils, transport to sporting activities and events, one to one teaching, intimate care needs, toileting accidents, swimming, special needs, accidents. visibility, visitors to the school, invited guests/coaches, substitute teachers/SNAs, Mass servers, shared custody/separation practices. The Board has ensured that the necessary policies, protocols or practices as appropriate are in place in respect of each of the above listed items. The following is an outline of each practice.

  • Transport: In the case of transporting children to school events during the school day, teachers will not carry children in their cars unless they have checked with their insurance company that they may do so. If their car insurance policy entitles him/her to do so, at least two children must travel with the teacher in the car or another adult and child. As far as possible, children will be brought back to the school, and should be collected promptly by the parent at pre-arranged time. If other parents are helping with transport to and from events, a permission slip must be signed by parents of children embarking on these events, to give permission for his/her child to travel with the volunteer parents. In such cases, volunteer parents will not carry children alone in their cars unless carrying their own children, and at least two children must travel with the volunteer parents. Volunteer parents must comply with the law with regard to seat belts, speeding regulations and any other road traffic legislation.
  • One to One: Staff should not be alone in a classroom with one child or detain a child on their own after school. In the case of special needs pupils where resource hours and assistance are sanctioned on an individual basis, it is school policy that staff in such a situation should work in a room with a glass panel on the door, thus rendering the occupants visible at all times. Should a member of staff find him/herself alone with a child in a room without a glass panel, the door should remain open.
  • Intimate Care needs; Children with physical disabilities who may require assistance in toiletry matters will be aided by a Special Needs Assistant who has met the necessary screening requirements when being employed by the school. In the event of an SNA being unavailable, two adult members of staff should assist the child/children, one of whom should be the DLP or the DDLP. In the case of neither being available, a member of the school’s ISM team should take their place. The second adult should ideally be the class teacher. These arrangements will be discussed with the parents prior to enrolment.
  • Toileting accidentsClean underwear and suitable clothing will be kept in the school so that if a pupil has an ‘accident’ of this nature, they will in the first instance be offered fresh clothing into which they can change. If the pupil for whatever reason cannot clean or change themselves and the parents/guardians cannot be contacted, the child will be assisted by members of staff familiar to the child, ideally the class teacher and the DLP or DDLP. In the case where neither is available , a member of the school’s ISM team should take their place. In all such situations, two members of staff should be present. A record of all such incidents will be kept. The parents will be notified as soon as possible.
  • Swimming; Staff who take classes swimming should ensure that there are two adults in attendance while in the pool area. The dressing rooms and pool area should be well supervised. Accompanying staff should supervise the shower area in the boys’ or girls’ dressing rooms, while children are showering in an effort to expedite the process. Children should then be supervised in the dressing area. Towards the end of the dressing process and while children are beginning to gather in the reception area, the supervising adults will divide their supervision time between the dressing area and reception.
  • Special Needs: The Stay Safe Programme will be taught each year during the second term. A newsletter will issue from the school reminding parents that it is being taught. Where there are children with limited academic ability, the content and activities of the lesson will be differentiated to help them to understand the message of the lesson. It should be noted that children with disabilities may be more at risk of abuse due to a number of reasons (see list outlined on page 99 of ‘Children First Guidelines’). Parents, teachers and all staff involved in services for children with disabilities need to be familiar with the indicators of abuse and to be alert for signs of abuse.
  • Supervision: During breaks, all pupils are supervised by teachers in the school yard. To access toilets during break times, children must have permission of the supervising teacher. A buzzer system to admit visitors is in operation on the front door. The two side doors are locked during class for security. Keys are placed in these doors at all times, in order to open them, in the event of a fire. Parents must sign a notebook if a child is being removed from the premises during the school day and sign the children back in if they return during that school day. All visitors must sign a visitors’ book when entering the premises. This book is clearly visible at the school entrance with a sign asking visitors to sign.
  • Accidents ; While every precaution will be taken under our Health and Safety Statement to ensure the safety of children, we realise that accidents will happen. Serious accidents will be noted in our Incident book and will be addressed under our Accident Policy as part of Health and Safety. A serious accident is defined as occurring if parents are informed. As far as practically possible, only water should be administered to cuts. However, should a plaster be deemed necessary, a note will then be sent home informing the parents that a plaster has been applied.
  • Visibility: Teachers will ensure that children are visible in the yard as far as is practically possible. Children will not be allowed to spend time in classrooms, toilets or areas where they would not be under adult supervision. They are not allowed to leave the yard or engage with adults who are outside of the school yard.
  • Unscheduled Visitors: Teachers on yard duty will be aware of visitors entering the school yard and will ascertain their intentions. They will be supervised in the discharge of their business. Visitors should not enter the school without contacting the office by using the bell and intercom (fitted at the main entrance) and giving their reason for entry. They will sign the visitors’ book on entering the premises. All entrances, other than the main entrance, will be locked during the day, in order to ensure child safety. Keys will remain in the locked doors in the event of a fire. Two teachers have been nominated to lock and open these doors before and after breaks.
  • Invited Visitors/Speakers/Coaches; Visitors who have been invited by the school to speak to the children or to coach the children will always be accompanied by a staff member and supervised in the discharge of their business. They should, under no circumstances, be left unsupervised.
  • Substitute Teachers/SNAs; All substitute teachers and substitute SNAs will produce evidence of garda vetting and sign a form of undertaking before being allowed to work in the school.
  • Mass Servers: Children who are serving mass during the school day will walk to and return from the church in pairs, with written parental permission. If a rostered child is absent, then a replacement server is appointed and the two go to the church together.

6. This policy has been made available to school personnel, along with a copy of the DES Procedures and Children First 2011 and the Parents’ Association and is readily accessible to parents on request. A copy of this policy will be made available to the Department and the patron if requested.

7. This policy was first ratified on 24th September 2012 and has been reviewed by the Board of Management in September of each subsequent year. The most recent review was in September 2017.

This policy was adopted by the Board of Management on ______[date]

Signed: ______Signed: ______

Chairperson of Board of Management Principal

Date: ______Date: ______

Date of next review: ______

Appendix 1: Checklist for Annual Review of the Child Protection Policy

The Board of Management must undertake an annual review of its child protection policy and the following checklist shall be used for this purpose.

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

As part of the overall review process, Boards of Management should also assess other school policies, 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 protection policy. Yes/No
Has the Board formally adopted a child protection policy in accordance with the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools’?
As part of the school’s child protection policy, has the Board formally adopted, without modification, the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools’?
Are there both a DLP and a Deputy DLP currently appointed?
Are the relevant contact details (HSE and An Garda Síochána) to hand?
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?
Has the school’s child protection policy identified other school policies, practices and activities that are regarded as having particular child protection relevance?
Has the Board ensured that the Department’s “Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools” are available to all school personnel?
Has the Board arrangements in place to communicate the school’s child protection policy 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’?
Since the Board’s last annual review, was the Board informed of any child protection reports made to the HSE/An Garda Síochána by the DLP?
Since the Board’s last annual review, was the Board informed of any cases where the DLP sought advice from the HSE and as a result of this advice, no report to the HSE was made?
Is the Board satisfied that the child protection procedures in relation to the making of reports to the HSE/ An Garda Síochána were appropriately followed?
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 ensured that the Parents’ Association (if any), has been provided with the school’s child protection policy?