SCOIL EOIN BALLOONAGH TRALEE

ACCESS TO SCHOOL PREMISES

Introduction

This policy is based on the Principal's duty of care in relation to the safety and wellbeing of all students and others who attend upon the school premises.

Background

  1. Acknowledging the Principal’s duty of care, this policy governs who should be permitted to enter upon the school premises. No person has an automatic right to enter, but rather it is an operational decision, which must accord with the Principal’s duty of care.
  2. Safety is an important consideration in access to the premises in order to ensure the safety of children and adults on the premises. Itis important for the school to know who is present and why.

Access to School Premises

Staff Members:

School is open and accessible to all staff from 8.00am each morning to 4.00pm each evening ( 5.00pm on Wednesdays)/or as permitted under this policy for school functions such as school concerts, parent/teacher meetings, sacrament talks etc.

  • The following staff are approved keyholders :
  • Kieran O’Toole Principal
  • Rena O’Connell Deputy Principal
  • Leonard Tuohy Caretaker
  • Tina Conway Secretary
  • Joe McMahonAssistant Principal
  • Christina Slattery Assistant Principal
  • Catherine SugrueAssistant Principal

Other than those listed above access to the school outside of these hours is only approved under the following circumstance.

  • Specific arrangements have been made with one of the above key holders. Where access arrangements have been made, the Keyholdermust remain on the premises and ensure the building is locked afterwards.

Pupils

The Board accepts responsibility for pupils from 8.45 am to 2.40pm Monday to Friday. Prior to 8.45am (drop off time) in the morning and after 2.40pm (pick up time),(3.40pm pick up time on evenings where pupils are attending after school activities) the duty of care for children is the responsibility of their parents or carers and not the responsibility of the Principal or the school.

Visitors

Visitors to the school are regulated by the visitors section - see below.

Standing Approvals

  1. Parents are welcome at all times at reception where they can:
  2. arrange the collection or drop off of their children,
  3. arrange an appointment with class teacher and/or principal
  4. seek clarification or advice on matters of enrolment, school policies etc.
  5. Parents are welcome beyond reception on the following occasions:
  6. for the purpose of parent teacher meetings. It is noted that it is up to the parents to supervise any children they bring with them to those interviews.
  7. when attending approved school functions, such as school concerts, open days,science days celebrations etc.
  8. Any other activity that is expressly permitted by the Principal under this policy.

Access to School Premises Visitor's Policy

  1. From time to time people, other than parents, visit the school .eg
  2. Book sales reps. may visit various teachers with approval of principal.
  3. Individuals from DES, NEPS, HSE,CAMHS, EWO, College inspectorate are welcome at all times.
  4. Individuals on approved work placement are welcome.
  5. Members of parents association are welcome when organising various activities and functions with the approval of principal.
  6. People attending the school for associated education programs are also welcome, egJunior Entrepreneur Programme, Debating, Book readings etc.
  7. Where required, Garda Vetting must be in place before individuals have access to classes.
  8. Visitors must respect the role of the teachers and the Principal in running the education program of the school, and must follow the directions of the Principal and teachers at all times. Their behaviour should at all times be respectful and an appropriate model for the students consistent with the student code of conduct. Visitors should not smoke on the school premises, and should not consume alcohol at the time of working with children or prior to working with children.
  9. All visitors must sign in at reception. Visitors must wear a visitors badge during their visit and sign out when leaving.

Community Use of premises

  1. For elections:
  2. The Returning officer will notify the school of the date, duration and extent of the use. The school must comply with a lawful request for elections, but can negotiate a sum to recover the additional cost of making the premises available. In this respect, schools cannot charge a hire fee, but can claim for caretaking, heating, lighting and other out of office expenses.
  3. Letting to community groups for one off events such as Fleadh, Community games etc, pending written permission from the BoM.
  4. The sports hall may be hired pending:
  5. Applications for hire are made in writing directly to the school and authorised by the BoM.
  6. The Hirer/Client is over 18 years of age.
  7. The school shall determine in advance the duration of a letting, where possible.
  8. A signed contract for rental and following terms and conditions:
  9. A certificate of insurance must be presented to the office. The hirer will be required to indemnify and keep indemnified the board, its servants and agents without prejudice against all claims, both present and future, arising from the use of the hall.
  10. Hall rental 30 euro per hour. Monies to be paid to school office either monthly or bi-monthly.
  11. Clients must abide by the timetable as agreed beforehand.
  12. Child protection guidelines must be followed.
  13. Access is strictly restricted to the hired area and any toilet facilities, entrances, exits and corridors as directed by the BoM and/or the school.
  14. Care must be taken to lock up premises each day prior to departure.
  15. Keys must be returned to the caretaker at Scoil Eoin at the end of the rental agreement.
  16. Clients are expected to ensure that school property and grounds are respected.
  17. Misuse of alarm leading to callout from security company will result in a charge of 18 euro plus VAT.
  18. There will be no variation to the conditions of hire without the express consent of the BoM.
  19. The hirer is responsible for everyone who is on the premises for the activities they are organising and generally, for everyone who comes on to parts of the school premises which are under the hirer’s control at stated times. The hirer is responsible for ensuring that they comply with all the terms of the hire agreement. No notices or placards shall be affixed to, lean upon or be suspended from any part of the school premises. No bolts, nails, tacks, screws, pins or similar objects shall be driven into any walls, floors , ceilings, furniture or fittings. The hirer shall ensure that no persons using the permitted area to use shoes with stiletto heels or other footwear which may in the opinion of the BoM or the school be damaging to the floor surfaces of the hired area.
  20. All electrical equipment owned by the hirer should be either brand new or be electrically tested. The school may make random checks on electrical equipment.
  21. Intoxicating liquor shall not be brought into nor consumed on school premises without the prior consent of the BoM. Where such consent is given the hirer must comply with the Licensing Laws and provide evidence of such to the BoM.
  22. There shall be no smoking on the school premises in line with government legislation.
  23. The hire area does not include the use of any equipment except where specifically agreed and subject to any fees deemed appropriate by the BoM.
  24. The parking of vehicles on the school’s property shall be permitted in approved areas only on condition that persons bringing such vehicles on to the premises do so at their own risk and that they accept responsibility for any damage to the school’s property or injury to any person whether connected with the establishment or not, caused by such vehicles or their presence on the school’s premises. It is the responsibility of the Hirer to ensure safe pedestrian and vehicle segregation.

Cancellation or Postponement by Hirer:

Hirers will be allowed cancel or postpone bookings. Refunds or fees payable are at the discretion of the BoM.

Cancellation of Hiring by the School:

If the school finds it necessary to cancel a booking, as much notice as possible will be given, generally not less than 24 hours and a full refund will be given if the letting is paid for prior to the letting taking place. The school will accept no liability in respect of commitments or expenses incurred by the Hirer due to such cancellations.

The right is reserved to cancel any hiring, without notice, where the BoM considers it necessary for any cause outside their control and a full refund will be given if the letting is paid for prior to the letting taking place.

Rental/Use of Individual Classrooms

Individual rooms may be rented after 4.00pm for purpose of after school activities pending:

  • Approval in writing from the BoM.
  • A certificate of Insurance must be presented to the office.
  • In complying with Child Protection Guidelines the board cannot facilitate one to one tuition on the premises outside of school hours.
  • The purpose for which the room is hired must be in line with the ethos of the school.

Terms of Conditions as per Sports Hall Rental Agreement apply.