Child
Protection Policy of
Scoil
Pádraig Naofa, Cregmore
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 Scoil
Pádraig Naofa 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 the
principal, Mr. Joe Kennelly
3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP)
is the vice principal, Mrs. Neasa O’Dea
4. In its policies, practices and activities Scoil
Pádraig Naofa 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.
5. This section lists school policies, practices and
activities that are particularly relevant to child protection and of which all
staff should be aware.
·
Code of Behaviour
Policy
·
Anti-bullying
Policy
·
Health and Safety
Statement
·
Pupil Attendance
Strategy
·
Supervision of
Pupils
·
Sporting
Activities
·
School Outings
·
Toileting
Accidents
·
Guest Speakers
·
Using the
Internet in School
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. Agreed
procedures relating to specific activities referred to above are addressed in
appendix 1 of this document.
6. This policy has been made available to school
personnel 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 will be reviewed by the Board of
Management once in every school year.
This policy was adopted by the Board of Management on
_________________[date]
Signed:
_________________________ Signed:
__________________________
Principal Chairperson, Board of Management
Appendix
1
Practice:
The following areas have been considered by the
staff and board of management of this school as areas of specific concern in
relation to child protection. ‘Stay Safe, best practice in Child Protection:
Guidance for schools’ was consulted in drawing up this practice. Following
discussion and consultation the staff and board of management have agreed that
the following practices be adopted.
a)
Physical contact:
Physical contact
between school personnel and the child should always be in response to the needs of the child and not
the needs of the adult. While physical contact may be used to comfort, reassure
or assist a child the following should be factors in determining it’s
appropriateness:-
· It is acceptable
to the child
· It is open and
not secretive
· The age and
developmental stage of the child
School personnel should avoid doing anything of a
personal nature for children that they can do for themselves.
b)
Visitors / Guest
Speakers:
Visitors/guest speakers
should never be left alone with pupils. The school (principal/teachers) has a
responsibility to check out the credentials of the visitor/guest speaker and to
ensure that the material in use by guests is appropriate.
c)
Children with
specific toileting/intimate care needs:
In all situations where
a pupil needs assistance with toileting /intimate care a meeting will be
convened, after enrolment and before the child starts school, between
parents/guardians, class teacher, special needs assistant, principal and if
appropriate the pupil . The purpose of the meeting will be to ascertain the
specific needs of the child and to determine how the school can best meet those
needs. The staff to be involved in this care will be identified and provision
will be made for occasions when the particular staff involved are absent. A
written copy of what has been agreed will be made and kept in the child’s file.
In situations where a
child’s toileting needs are deemed of a more severe nature by the school, or in
cases where it may not be practical to assist the child in this regard at the
school, it may be considered more appropriate for the child’s parent/ guardian
to withdraw them in such cases to provide appropriate care for them at home,
after which they may returned to class.
Any deviation from the
agreed procedure will be recorded and notified to the DLP and the
parents/guardians.
d)
Toileting
accidents:
Clean 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.
A record of all such
incidents will be kept and principal and parents will be notified.
e)
One- to One
teaching
It is the policy in
this school that one-to-one teaching is often in the best interest of the
child. Every effort will be made to ensure that this teaching takes place in an
open environment. Parents of children who are to be involved in one-to-one
teaching will be informed and their agreement sought.
Work being carried out
by special needs assistants will be carried out under the direction of the
class teacher in an open environment. The special needs assistant’s notes will
be stored securely in the filing cabinet of the classroom. A copy of the special
needs assistant’s time table is also given to the principal.
f)
Changing for
Games/ PE/ Swimming
Pupils will be expected
to dress and undress themselves for games/PE/ swimming. Where assistance is
needed this will be undertaken by the child’s parents. Under no circumstances
will members of staff/ volunteers be expected to or allowed to dress/undress a
child for such activities. In such situations where privacy is required the
parent/guardian of the child will be asked to assist the child.
At all times there must
be adequate supervision of pupils.
g)
Supervision of
children
Children are adequately
supervised during the school day and on all school related activities. When
first aid is administered in the school this is done in the staffroom and in
the presence of other staff/children. Children will not travel alone in staff
teachers cars. Furthermore, children are not allowed to be collected by
somebody unknown to the staff.
h)
Recruitment and
selection of staff
The recruitment and
selection of staff will be carefully considered. All applications will supply
personal details, a resume of work experience and references to the school and
garda vetting will always be sought. All volunteers working in the school will
do so under the guidance of the teachers.
i) Internet Safety
Children are adequately
supervised on the internet in school. Children are not allowed to bring mobile
phones to school. The schools acceptable use policy outlines the decisions the
school has taken in relation to technology including mobile phones, pictures
etc.
While every effort will be made to adhere to best
practice as agreed and outlined above, in the event of an emergency where this
is not possible or practicable a full record of the incident should be made and
reported to principal and parents.
Links
to other key policy / planning areas:
Prevention:
SPHE curriculum, Strand Unit on ‘Safety and Protection’,
The School Code of Discipline
Procedures:
Anti-Bullying Policy .
Health and Safety Statement.
Practice:
Swimming Policy
School Tours / Outings