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Child Safeguarding Statement
Glenamaddy Community School is a post-primary school providing education to pupils from First Year to Leaving Certificate Year and Post Leaving Certificate. 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 Glenamaddy Community 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 Mr. James Duignan (Principal).

3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person Deputy (DDLP) is Ms. Eileen Gildea (Deputy Principal).

4. The Board of Management recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and must be reflected in all 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, instruction and training to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) the school-

 has provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement.
 ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement.
 encourages staff to avail of relevant training.
 encourages Board of Management members to avail of relevant training.
 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 abovenamed 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.

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 Trustees. 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.

 

This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on 20th March 2018.
Signed: _________________________ Signed: ____________________________
Chairperson of Board of Management                  Principal

 

Glenamaddy Community School - Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirement of Chapter 8 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, the following is the Written Risk Assessment of Glenamaddy Community School.

 

List of school activities

• Daily arrival and departure of pupils
• Recreation breaks
• Classroom and one-to-one teaching
• One-to-one counselling and meetings
• Sporting and outdoor teaching activities
• All school outings including foreign travel and overnight stays
• Use of toilet/changing/shower areas in schools (allowing for privacy)
• Fundraising events involving pupils
• Use of off-site facilities for school activities
• School transport arrangements including use of bus escorts
• Care of children with special educational and personal needs
• Administration of Medicine and First Aid
• Curricular provision in respect of SPHE and RSE
• Prevention and dealing with bullying
• Training of school personnel in child protection matters
• Use of external personnel to supplement the curriculum
• Use of external personnel to support sports and other extra-curricular activities
• Permitted use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school
• Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Good Behaviour
• Students participating in work experience in the school
• Students from the school participating in work experience elsewhere
• Student teachers undertaking training placement in school
• Use of video/photography/other media to record school events
• Use of school premises by other organisation during school day
• Homework club/evening study
• Recruitment of school personnel including Teachers/SNAs/Clerical/Caretaker/Ancillary staff
• Sports coaches/ External tutors/Guest speakers
• Volunteers/Parents in school activities
• Visitors/Contractors present in school
• Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/needs such as
- Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants
- Members of the Traveller community
- LGBT pupils or pupils perceived as LGBT
- Pupils of minority religious faiths
- Children in care
- Children on CPNS

 

Examples of Risks of Harm
• Risk of harm not being recognised by school personnel
• Risk of harm not being reported properly and promptly by school personnel
• Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel.
• Risk of child being harmed in the school by another child
• Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
• Risk of child being harmed by a member of school personnel, a member of staff of another
organisation or other person while child participating in out of school activities
• Risk of harm due to bullying of child
• Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school
• Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children while attending out of school activities
• Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship/communications between child/another child or adult
• Risk of harm due to children inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones and
other devices while at school
• Risk of harm to children with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities
• Risk of harm to child while a child is receiving intimate care
• Risk of harm due to inadequate code of behaviour
• Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching, counselling, coaching situation
• Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel communicating with pupils in appropriate
manner via social media, texting, digital device or other manner
• Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel accessing/circulating inappropriate material via
social media, texting, digital device or other manner

Examples of Procedures to address risks of harm
• All school personnel are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017.
• School Personnel are required to adhere to the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and all registered teaching staff are required to adhere to the Children First Act 2015.
• The school implements in the SPHE curriculum and the Wellbeing Programme at Junior Cycle
• The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
• The school has a yard supervision policy to ensure appropriate supervision of children during, assembly, dismissal and breaks.
• The school has in place procedures in respect of school outings.
• The school has a Health and Safety Policy.
• The school adheres to the requirements of the Garda vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda vetting.
• The school has in place a Code of Good Behaviour for pupils
• The school promotes the Teaching Councils Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers.
• The school complies with the agreed procedures for complaints and disciplinary procedures for staff.
• The school has a Special Educational Needs policy.
• The school has in place procedures for the administration of medication and First Aid to pupils.
• The school has a stock of First Aid supplies. Medications are kept in the office.
• Members of the Board of Management and staff are encouraged to avail of relevant training.
• The school has in place an ICT policy in respect of usage of ICT by pupil.
• The school has in place a policy in respect of usage of mobile phones by pupils.
• The school has in place a Critical Incident Management Plan.
• The school has a Pastoral Care Policy and a Pastoral Care team comprised of the Principal, Deputy Principal, Year Heads, Chaplain, Career Guidance and Learning Support Coordinator.
• The school has a Chaplaincy Policy.
• Students requiring basic first aid are sent to the office to be attended to by a member of staff. Contact is made with the student’s parents/guardians if required or if requested by the student.
• The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of pupils undertaking work experience in external organisations.
• The school has in place an accident reporting procedure where a member of staff completes an Accident Report Form with relevant details. These forms are kept on file and a copy submitted to the State Claims Agency.

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 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.

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 20th March 2018. It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.

 

Signed _____________________________________
Chairperson, Board of Management

 

Signed _____________________________________
Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management

 

 

Glenamaddy Community School, Church Street, Glenamaddy, Via Castlerea, Co. Galway, F45KF50 

 

Telephone +353(0)94 9659315 | Fax +353(0)94 9659354 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

RCN: 20149543