Child Safeguarding Statement for Cadamstown N.S.
Cadamstown National School 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 Cadamstown NS has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.
The school will:
The school will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
Note: The above is not intended as an exhaustive list. Individual Board of Management shall also include in this section such other procedures/measures that are of relevance to the school in question.
This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on March 4th, 2020.
________________________________ _____________________________
Signed: Mr Donal O’Sullivan Signed: Mr Martin Lynch
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: 4.03.20 Date: 4.03.20
Cadamstown N.S. Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment
List of School Activities | The School has identified the following risk of harm in respect of these activities | The School has put the following procedures in place to address the risk of harm identified in this assessment |
Training of school personnel in Child Protection matters | Harm not recognised or reported promptly by teachers. | Child Safeguarding Statement & ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools’ procedures made available to all staff
DLP & DDLP to attend PDST face to face training All staff to view Túsla training module & any other online training offered by PDST, INTO (during Croke park hours 2018). BOM to keep all records of staff and board training |
One to one teaching | Harm by school personnel | School has policy in place for one to one teaching
Open doors or glass in door and window are requirements |
Care of Children with special needs, including intimate care needs | Harm by school personnel | Policy on intimate care – Needs to be put in place if required |
Toilet areas | Inappropriate behaviour | Classroom and school rules regarding using the toilet and supervision policy – |
Curricular Provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe | Non – teaching of same | School implements SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe in all classes; records are kept in teachers’ monthly records stored in principal’s office |
LGBT Children/ Pupils perceived to be LGBT | Bullying | Anti-Bullying Policy, Code of Behaviour – includes homophobic bullying |
Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils.
Late arrivals (post 9:20). Somebody without custody collecting a child. |
Harm to pupils | Supervision of Pupils policy.
Behaviour and Discipline (School Rules) The parents of a child/children arriving late must bring the child(ren) to the front door, ring the bell and hand the child over to a teacher. Include in Enrolment Form, School Rules etc. |
Managing of challenging behaviour amongst pupils, including appropriate use of restraint | Injury to pupils and staff | Include a section on dealing with the violent behaviour of a pupil (pupils) in the Code of Behaviour and Discipline Policy.
INTO Leaflet on good practice available. Need policy/guidelines on restraint/assaults?? INTO Leaflet on good practice available |
Sports coaches | Harm to pupils | Supervision Policy and PE Policy. A teacher stays with the class at all times.
All coaches must provide evidence of National Vetting Board vetting in advance. |
Students participating in work experience in the school | Harm to pupils | Work Experience Policy needs to be drawn up.
Under 16’s are allowed. Child Safeguarding Statement in place. |
Recreation breaks for pupils – including wet days | Bullying, harm to pupils | Code of Behaviour, Anti-bullying policies in place. Each teacher supervises his or her own class (Supervision Policy). |
Classroom teaching | Harm to pupils | Teaching council Code of Professional conduct in place; the school complies with the agreed disciplinary procedures for teaching staff; Code of Behaviour, Anti-Bullying Policies in place |
Outdoor teaching activities | Harm to pupils | Teaching council Code of Professional conduct; code of behaviour anti-bullying policies in place;
Teacher supervises activities |
Sporting activities/School Teams/Sports Days | Inappropriate behaviour, Bullying
Harm to pupils |
Code of Behaviour, Anti- Bullying policies in place.
As an appendix to the Enrolment Form, parents will sign the following; “I give permission to my child to leave the school premises under the supervision of a teacher to go to 1. Cadamstown Hall and Pitch, 2. Swimming Pool, 3. School Matches, Games and other Inter-school competitions e.g. Quizzes etc. , 4. Nature Walks, 5. Communion and Confirmation Practices, 6. School Tours” |
School outings | Inappropriate behaviour
Harm to pupils |
Where children are engaged in a number of activities on school outings (e.g. adventure centres), teachers will request written assurance that all tutors/teachers/instructors/guides are vetted.
We will seek assurance that bus drivers are vetted and ensure the children do not return to buses on their own. |
Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school | Bullying, harm to pupils as a result of inappropriately accessing/ using computers, social media, phones, other devices while at school | ICT Policy
No social media allowed on school laptops or tablets. Children are discouraged from bringing phones/devices into school. If they have one for contacting parents after school, they should give it to the teacher before school starts. Training night to be provided in conjunction with Clogherinkoe school in 2018. Anti-Bullying Policy, Code of Behaviour policies in place NEW DATA PROTECTION guidelines due in May will have an impact on how we store and use data – Training will be required. |
Access to the school premises during school hours. | Harm to children | The back door will be open from 9:10 – 9:20 and at break times. Access at all other times will be by the front door and by ringing the bell. Visitors who come into the school building should sign the visitors’ Book. |
Recruitment of school personnel including –
· Teachers · SNA’s · Caretaker/Secretary/Cleaners · Sport Coaches · External Tutors/Guest Speakers · Volunteers/Parents in school activities · Visitors/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 & ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools’ procedures made available to all staff
Staff to view Túsla training module & any other online training offered by PDST (during Croke Park hours, staff training half days 2018) NVB Vetting Procedures in place. Teachers always present with sports coaches, external tutors, guest speakers, volunteers, parents, visitors, workmen. |
Student teachers undertaking training placement in school | Harm to pupils | BOM/School must be in possession of Vetting provided by colleges of education. The student is provided with a copy of the school safeguarding statement and relevant policies before commencement of teaching practice |
Use of video/photography/other media to record school events | Bullying
Harm to pupils |
Permission is given by parents, when filling in the enrolment form, to include their children’s photo and name on the website (but not both together) |
After school use of school premises by other organisations. | Guidelines agreed with the relevant parties. | |
Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils | Harm to pupils | Code of Behaviour
Anti-Bullying Policies in place |
Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/needs such as
· Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants · Members of the Traveller Community · Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) children · Pupils perceived to be LGBT · Pupils of minority religious faiths · Children in care · Children on Child Protection Notification System |
Code of Behaviour, Anti-Bullying policies in place; SPHE lessons on inclusion, | |
Sports/Fun Evening | Harm to pupils | Children are under the care of their parents/guardians. |
Access to school by parents, grandparents and other relatives e.g. Cake sale, School concert | Harm to pupils | Teacher present at all times |
School Bus (morning and evening) | Harm to pupils | Make parents aware that it is a private contract between the parents and the bus operator. |
Parents and teachers bringing children to
a. church practices and b. sports events during and outside school hours. |
Harm to pupils | a. Church practices: Parents are responsible for getting their children to the church if the teachers do not hire a bus.
b. Sports Events – hire a bus for all games or parents are responsible for bringing their own children or arranging to have them brought by other parents. |
Administration of Medicine | Storage of medicines
Harm to pupils |
Need to review and update policy |
Administration of First Aid | School Accident/Injury Policy | |
Pupils moving through the school | Harm to pupils | A filing cabinet for storing cleaning fluids. |
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 Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 |
In undertaking this risk assessment and the staff and Board of Management of Cadamstown N.S. has endeavoured to identify as far as possible the risk of harm that are relevant to this school 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 the risk assessment to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent.
The risk assessment has been completed by the Board of Management on 4/3/2020
It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.
Signed: Donal O’Sullivan Date: 4/3/2020
Chairperson, Board of Management
Signed: Martin Lynch Date: 4/3/2020
Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Notification regarding the Board of Management’s review of the Child Safeguarding Statement
The Board of Management of Cadamstown N.S. wishes to inform you that:
Signed Donal O’Sullivan Date 04/03/2020
Chairperson, Board of Management
Signed Martin Lynch Date 04/03/2020
Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management