St. Patrick’s Junior National School is a primary school
providing primary education to pupils from Early Start to Second 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 St. Patrick’s Senior National School has
agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.
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 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding
Statement
2. The Designated Liaison
Person (DLP) is Áine
Kirwan
3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy
DLP) is Ciara Lavelle
4. 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.
5. 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-
Ø Has
provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding
Statement;
Ø Ensures
all new staff are provided with a copy
of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement;
Ø Encourages
staff to avail of relevant training;
Ø Encourages
Board of Management members to avail of relevant training; and
Ø 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.
Note: The above is no intended as an exhaustive list. Individual Boards of Management shall also include in this section such other procedures/ measures that are of relevance to the school in question.
Note: The above is no intended as an exhaustive list. Individual Boards of Management shall also include in this section such other procedures/ measures that are of relevance to the school in question.
6. 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.
7. 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.
7. 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 11/04/2019.
Signed:
____________________________
Signed:
__________________________
Chairperson
of Board of Management Principal
Date: __________________________ Date: __________________________