Emo National School Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures
Rationale
Emo National School aims to provide its pupils with the highest standards of care and protection, in order to promote each child’s well-being and safeguard him/her from harm. The Board of Management of Emo National School has adopted the Department of Education and Skills’ Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
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 the Board of Management of Emo N.S. has agreed the following child protection policy:
Introductory Statement
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 Cyril Duggan
3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Florence Fennelly
4. In its policies, practices and activities, Emo N.S. 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. The school will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any pupil with a special vulnerability.
The staff, parents and management of Emo NS have developed and agreed this policy in line with the current recommendations and guidelines relating to child abuse prevention and child protection guidelines.
This policy addresses the responsibilities of the school in the followings areas:-
a) Prevention – curriculum provision
b) Procedures – procedures for dealing with concerns / disclosures
c) Practice – best practice in child protection
f) Allegations against School Employees
g) Reporting allegations against School Employees
h) Communication of this Policy
i) Links with other areas of the curriculum
j) Review and Monitoring
Prevention – Curriculum Provision
The Stay Safe programme is the primary resource used in this school to provide education for children on abuse prevention. The programme is taught as part of the schools’ SPHE curriculum under the strand unit Safety and Protection.
The 5 formal lessons of the programme will be taught in their entirety every second year in accordance with the SPHE two-year cycle plan.
On enrolment of their child parents will be informed that the Stay Safe programme is in use in the school and a copy of the Stay Safe ‘A Parent’s Guide’ provided. The RSE Programme is taught as part of the SPHE curriculum under the strand Myself, strand units Growing and changing and Taking Care of my body.
Procedures: Dealing with concerns/ disclosures
All staff(Teachers, SNAs, ancillary, secretarial, caretaking etc.) in this school will follow the recommendations for reporting concerns or disclosures as outlined in ‘Children First’ and the Department of Education and Science document, ‘Child Protection, Guidelines and Procedures’.
The Board of Management of this school has appointed Cyril Duggan as the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and Florence Fennelly as the deputy DLP.
The staff and management of this school have agreed:
• All concerns/ disclosures involving child protection/child welfare issues will be reported in the first instance to the DLP (deputy DLP where appropriate).
• Each report to the DLP will be dated and signed by the person making that report.
• A strict adherence to maintaining confidentiality – information regarding concerns or disclosures of abuse should only be given on a ‘need to know’ basis.
• Each teacher will be provided with a folder containing a standard recording sheet- these are to be kept in a secure location.
• Only the child’s pps. no. will be used when recording.
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. 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 is absent. A written copy of what has been agreed will be made and kept in the child’s file. Two members of staff will be present when dealing with intimate care/ toileting needs. 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. If the pupil for whatever reason cannot clean or change themselves and the parents/guardians cannot be contacted the child will be assisted by members of staff familiar to the child. In all such situations two members of staff should be present. 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 our by special needs assistants will be carried out under the direction of the class teacher in an open environment.
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 done in the communal areas and with the consent of parents. Under no circumstances will members of staff/ volunteers be expected to or allowed to dress/undress a child in a cubicle/private area. 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) Recruitment and selection of staff
The recruitment and selection of staff is crucial to ensuring that those working with the children in the school are safe adults insofar as this can be determined. Correct procedures will be followed in relation to advertising, interviewing and the selection of staff, and other practices will also be considered
• All applications should be asked to supply in writing information which includes appropriate personal details, a resumé of past and current work/volunteering experience, indicating relevant qualification or skills acquired.
• At least two written references-verifications of which shall be sought.
• Garda vetting as standard.
h) Supervision of Children
Children are adequately supervised at all times during school hours. It is expected that a child will never be in the school building alone with a teacher. Should any incidents/accidents take place while children are under the supervision of school staff, these will be adequately recorded. First Aid will always be administered in public place, or in the presence of other adults/children. Children will never travel alone in a staff member’s car. Children will not be allowed to be collected by someone unknown to the staff. Where schools are aware of a court order being in place which prevents someone from having access to a child, a copy of that order should be requested by the school. In the event of the parents/guardians non compliance with the court order the Gardaí should be summoned to the school to enforce it. 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.
Allegations Against School Employees
The most important consideration for the Chairperson, Board of Management or the DLP is the safety and protection of the child. However, employees also have a right to protection against claims which are false or malicious.
As employers, the Board of Management should always seek legal advice as the circumstances can vary from one case to another.
There are two procedures to be followed:
The reporting Procedure and the Procedure for dealing with the Employee
- The DLP has responsibility for reporting the matter to the Health Board. The Chairperson, Board of Management has responsibility, acting in consultation with his/her Board, for addressing the employment issues. If the allegation is against the DLP, the Chairperson of the Board of Management will assume the responsibility for reporting the matter to the Health Board.
Reporting an Allegation of Abuse against a school employee
When an allegation of abuse is made against a school employee, the DLP should immediately act in accordance with the procedures outlined in Child Protection, Chapter 3 , Paragraph 3.2 page 11 .
A written statement of the allegation should be sought from the person/agency making the report. The DLP should always inform the Chairperson of the Board of Management.
The Chairperson of the BOM should follow the protocols as laid down in Chapter 4 , Section 4.3 –“Action to be take by the Chairperson” .
Communication of this Policy
This policy has been made available to school personnel and the Parents’ Association and is readily accessible to parents on the school website www.emons.ie.
A copy of this policy will be made available to the Department and the patron if requested.
Links to other policy / planning areas:
SPHE curriculum, Strand Unit on ‘Safety and Protection’,
The School Code of Behaviour
Anti-Bullying Policy.
Health and Safety Statement.
P.E Policy
School Tours / Outings
Internet usage Policy
Review and Monitoring
This policy will be monitored and reviewed annually by the Board of Management.