Reamhrá/ Introduction

The staff, parents and management of Gaelscoil Choráin have developed and agreed this policy in line with current recommendations and guidelines in relation to child abuse prevention and child protection guidelines.

This Policy addresses the responsibility of the school in the following areas:-
a) Prevention - curriculum provision
b) Procedures - procedures for dealing with concerns/disclosures
c) Practice - best practice in child protection.

An individual copy of this policy document and the appended section from the Department of Education and Science Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures will be made available to all staff.
It is incumbent on all staff to familiarise themselves with ‘Children First’ and the DES child protection guidelines and procedures.

Aidhmeanna / Aims

This policy aims to:
§ Create a safe, trusting, responsive and caring environment.
§ Provide a personal safety skills education which specifically addresses abuse prevention for all children in the school.
§ Develop awareness and responsibility in the area of child protection amongst the whole school community.
§ Put in place procedures for good practice to protect all children and staff.
§ Ensure that all staff members are aware of and familiar with the ‘Children First’ and the DES guidelines and procedures in relation to reporting concerns and/or disclosures of child abuse.
§ Promote ongoing training in this and related areas for all school staff.

Cosc / Prevention

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 (Personal Safety).
Stay Safe and Walk Tall lesson plans will be taught accordingly as part of the Autumn - Winter Terms S.P.H.E. programme. Sample copies will be available in the school for parents.
Staff will make every effort to ensure that the message of the programme are reinforced whenever possible.

R.S.E (Relationships and Sexuality Ed.)
Lessons will be taught as part of the S.P.H.E. programme, usually during Confirmation term.

Procedures:

All staff(teachers, special needs assistants, ancillary staff, 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’.
(see attached Appendix, pages 5 to 20 from the above DES guidelines)

The Board of Management of this school has appointed
__Seán Ó Murchú_______________________ as the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and
___Hanóra Uí Mhathúna__________________ as the deputy DLP
(The DES guidelines recommend the appointment of the principal or another senior staff member as DLP)

Dea-chleachtas / Good Practice:

The staff and board of management of this school have identified the following 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 : No physical contact except for safety purposes.
b) Visitor/Guest Speakers: The school may include a guest speaker as part of the Stay Safe - RSE programme. An appropriate time to incorporate parents and pupils is usually facilitated during the course of the Confirmation year in Rang VI.
c) Children with specific toileting/intimate care needs: The S.N.A. will liaise with the child’s parent regarding same.
d) Toileting accidents: The school will ensure, in as far as practicable that two adults are present in such instances where the child requires assistance re: change of clothing etc. Parents will be contacted in such instances and kept informed.
e) One to One teaching: More than one child will always be present during learning support/resource class periods.
f) Games/PE/Swimming: Teachers are advised not to change their own clothing in the presence of pupils. A common sense approach in accordance with best practice re different changing situations is advised to protect all concerned.
g) Staff: Attention to be paid to vetting of staff with regard to same.
h) General conduct – adherence to Code of Conduct/School Rules.
i) Supervision: Pupils are supervised in accordance with best practice. Pupils should be supervised at all times. Liasion with colleagues in the event of having to be absent oneself. Pupils given priority at all times.
j) Internet use - Web wise Policy – Group Photographs - No individual naming of pupils.

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 the principal and parents.

Nascanna / Links to other policy/planning areas:
Prevention: SPHE curriculum, Strand Unit on ‘Safety and Protection’,
The School Code of Discipline

Procedures: Code of Behaviour - Health and Safety Statement.

Practice: Swimming Policy - School Tours/Outings - IT Acceptable use Policy

Athbhreithniú / Review and Monitoring:
This policy will be monitored and reviewed by the Board of Management on an annual basis and when the need arises.
Staff will be requested on a regular basis to review the school policy in this area and every effort will be made to ensure that the attention of all new staff is drawn to the school child protection policy.
The Board of Management will ensure that adequate training and support is provided for all staff.

Policy adopted by the Board of Management on _______________________

Sínithe: _______________________________
(Cathaoirleach)