Child Safeguarding Statement and Child Protection Risk Assessment

Bunscoil Bhríde, Rathangan

Bunscoil Bhríde is a 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 Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of Bunscoil Bhríde 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: Maria Rogerson

The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is: Rós O’Sullivan

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. 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.

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:
1. Has provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
2. Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
3. Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
4. Encourages Board of Management members to avail of relevant training
5. 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 school’s 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 Tusla 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 12^th March 2018 and reviewed in April 2019, April 2020 and April 2021.

Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

(of any potential harm)

List of School Activities	The School has identified the following Risk of Harm	The School has the following Procedures in place to address risk identified in this assessment
Training of school personnel in Child Protection matters	Harm not recognised or reported promptly	Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staffDLP & DDLP have attended PDST face to face trainingAll Staff (with the exception of Newly Qualified Teachers, who received training Child Protection training in college) have viewed the Túsla training module & the online training offered by PDST
One to one teaching	Harm by school personnel	School has put policy in place for one to one teachingAll classroom doors have a glass panel
Care of Children with special needs, including intimate care needs	Harm by school personnel	Policy on intimate careAll school personnel Garda vettedSNAs maintain a log of all intimate care procedures carried outPolicy on Restraint
Toilet areas	Inappropriate behaviour	Children will be encouraged to use the toilet before going out to the yard. Visits in to the toilet from the yard are strongly discouraged.When necessary, children will go in to toilet in pairs from yardOnly two children will go in to the toilet at any one time – they will be given clothes pegs by teacher on yard duty for this purpose
Curricular Provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay safe.	Non-teaching of same	School implements SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe in full
List of School Activities	The School has identified the following Risk of Harm	The School has the following Procedures in place to address risk identified in this assessment
Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils	Bullying	Anti-Bullying PolicyCode of Behaviour
Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils	Harm from older pupils, unknown adults around the playground	Reception, Assembly and Dismissal of Pupils PolicyArrival and dismissal supervised by Teachers for 10 minutesChildren who are not collected remain inside the gate with the teacher
Managing of challenging behaviour amongst pupils, including appropriate use of restraint	Injury to pupils and staff	Health & Safety PolicyCode Of Behaviour
Sports Coaches	Harm to pupils	All coaches to be Garda vetted Teacher is present when coach is working with children
Students participating in work experience	Harm by student Confidentiality	Work experience PolicyChild Safeguarding Statement.All individuals on work experience in the school are Garda vettedStudents are never on their own with children
Recreation breaks for pupils	Inappropriate behaviour, bullying	Anti-bullying policyCode of BehaviourSupervision Policy
Classroom teaching	Harm by school personnel	All school personnel Garda vettedGlass in doors
Outdoor teaching activities	Harm by school personnel	All school personnel Garda vetted
Sporting Activities	Harm by school personnel / volunteers, exposure to unknown adults, loss of pupils	Policy on School Tours / ExcursionsAll school personnel and parent volunteers Garda vetted
List of School Activities	The School has identified the following Risk of Harm	The School has the following Procedures in place to address risk identified in this assessment
School outings	Harm by school personnel / volunteers, exposure to unknown adults, loss of pupils, bullying	Policy on School Tours / ExcursionsAll school personnel and parent volunteers Garda vettedAnti-bullying PolicyCode of Behaviour
Annual Sports Days	Bullying, loss of pupils	Anti-bullying PolicyCode of BehaviourTeachers work with smaller group sizes during Sports Days
Administration of MedicineAdministration of First Aid	Harm by school personnel, injury to pupil	Administration of Medication PolicySupervision PolicyAll school personnel Garda vetted
Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum	Harm to pupils	All external personnel engaged within the school are Garda vettedPupils are always supervised by class teacher when engaging with an external teacher
Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/ needs such as Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrantsMembers of the Traveller community Pupils of minority religious faiths	Bullying	Anti-bullying PolicyCode of BehaviourStay Safe implemented in fullSPHE lessons on bullying at all class levelsFriendship Week held annually‘Weaving Wellbeing’ / ‘Friends’ Programme implemented in target classes
Recruitment of school personnel including -TeachersSNAsCaretaker/Secretary/CleanersSports coachesExternal Tutors/Guest Speakers Volunteers/Parents in school activitiesVisitors/contractors present in school during school hours Visitors/contractors present during after school activities	Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported	Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staffVetting ProceduresParent / Volunteer PolicySchool Visitors PolicyAll visitors must sign in and out at reception
Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school	Bullying	ICT Acceptable Use PolicyAnti-Bullying PolicyCode of BehaviourMobile Phones, Tablets and Electronic Games Policy
Student teachers undertaking training placement in school	Harm by studentsConfidentiality	Work experience PolicyGarda vetting of all student teachers undertaking placement in the schoolStudent teachers are always supervised by class teacher when in the presence of children
Use of video/photography/other media to record school events	Inappropriate use / sharing of images of pupils	Mobile phones, Tablets and Electronic Games PolicyParental consent for photographs and recordings to be used within the school received on enrolment.All school events taking place in the school will be photographed by teachers and placed on the school websiteParents are asked not to put photographs of school concerts / school events on social media
After school use of school premises by other organisations	Harm by after-school provider, harm by unknown adults	Hire and Use of the School PolicyGarda vetting of all providers of after-school activities in the schoolAll after-school providers have supplied the Board of Management with a Child Protection Policy
Presence of individuals who are not Garda vetted in the school building / yard during or after school	Harm by unknown individualAbduction of pupils	School Visitors Policy All visitors to the school must present to reception and be buzzed inAfter-school providers have been informed that responsibility for the locking of Door g during the course of their classes rests with them. After-school providers have been instructed to inform parents of children attending after-school classes that they must collect their children outside the school
Swimming	Harm by pool employee / unknown adults, loss of pupils, use of video / photography / other media to record children	Swimming PolicyParent volunteers are Garda vettedMobile Phones, Tablets and Electronic Games PolicyTeachers and parent volunteers present and supervising children at all times
Changing of clothes for events e.g. concerts, Communion photograph	Harm by school personnel / parent volunteers	All school personnel and parent volunteers are Garda vettedOnly Garda vetted parents help with clothes changingAlways two or more adults present when children in class are changing
Teaching via Zoom during periods of remote learning	Harm by school personnel	All Zoom sessions have two adults present; a teacher and SNA.

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

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 on 12^th March 2018 and was reviewed on 9^th April 2019, 28^th April 2020 and 20^th April 2021. It will be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.