Child Safeguarding Statement

Child Safeguarding Statement Fionnbarra Naofa

St. Finbarr’s is a Catholic boys’ primary school providing primary education to pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. In addition to its mainstream classes, it has one Early Intervention special class for boys with autism.

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 Túsla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of St. Finbarr’s BNS 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 Maeve Daly.
3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person is Aoife Whelan.
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/employee 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:
  • 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 Túsla, 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.

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 Túsla 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 February 14 2018.

Appendix 1: Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

Written Assessment of Risk of Fionnbarra Naofa, Cabra West
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 Fionnbarra Naofa Buachaillí.

1. List of school activities:

• Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils.
• Recreation breaks for pupils.
• Classroom teaching.
• One-to-one teaching.
• One-to-one counselling.
• Outdoor teaching activities.
• Sporting Activities.
• School outings.
  • Use of toilet/changing/shower areas in schools.
  • Annual Sports Day.
  • 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 needs, including intimate care where needed.
  • Management of challenging behaviour among pupils, including appropriate use of restraint where required.
  • Administration of Medicine.
  • Administration of First Aid.
  • Curricular provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe.
  • Prevention and dealing with bullying among pupils.
  • Training of school personnel in child protection matters.
  • Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum.
  • Use of external personnel to support sports and other extra-curricular activities.
  • Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/ needs such as:
    • Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants.
    • Members of the Traveler community.
    • Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) children.
    • Pupils perceived to be LGBT.
    • Pupils of minority religious faiths.
    • Children in care.
    • Children on CPNS.
    • Recruitment of school personnel including Teachers/SNAs, Caretaker/Secretary/Cleaners, Sports 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.
    •  Participation by pupils in religious ceremonies/religious instruction external to the school.
    • Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school.
    • Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including detention of pupils, confiscation of phones etc.
    • 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.
    • After school use of school premises by other organisations.
    • Use of school premises by other organisation during school day.
    • Breakfast club.
    • Homework club/evening study.
• Risk identified Potential risk of harm Procedure in place to manage risk identified.
• Opening/Closing Times and Break Times.
• Breakfast Club Access to pupils by strangers or other adults.
• Risk of harm from other pupils Supervision by teachers and SNAs from 8.40 a.m.

Adequate Supervision at break times

• Supervision by Breakfast club worker and SNAs from 8.05a.m.
• Escorted to school lobby by Breakfast club worker at 8.40a.m.
• Visitors/Visiting Tutors Tutors behaving inappropriately.
• Tutors lacking awareness of child safety issues. Visiting tutors from reputable organisations with appropriate vetting.
• Sign in/Sign out.
• Glass panels in doors.
• School Tours/Outings Access to pupils by strangers.
• Inappropriate activity by pupils.
• Dangers posed by unfamiliar environment Adequate supervision (15:1)
• Adequate planning and preparation by staff.
• Access/Egress Access to pupils by strangers or other adults.
• Flight risk for some pupils Magnetic locks on doors.
• Access by buzzer monitored by CCTV in secretary’s office and Principals office.
• Gates locked at break time.

Sports Events

• Potential for unsupervised times in changing areas.
• Access to pupils by strangers or other adults.
• Adequate supervision provided. No adult left on own with child 1:1 when changing.

Social Media Potential for bullying.

Potential for grooming of pupils Pupils’ mobile phones must be turned off during school day as per policy.

Anti-Bullying Policy.
Information sessions for pupils, parents and staff.
Bus escort Potential for inappropriate access from escort/driver with child Always two adults in attendance as per bus escort policy. Child is brought to bus and collected from bus by parent.
Toileting Potential risk of harm while carrying out intimate care – two adults (SNAs) in attendance when child being changed.

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 ratified by the Board of Management on February 14th 2018. It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.