Main menu
Click here for Safeguarding Statement
Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment Template
Child Safeguarding Statement
St. Peter’s N.S. 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 Addendum to Children First (2019), the Child Protection
Procedures for Primary and Post-
Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of St. Peter’s N.S. 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-
this overall Child Safeguarding Statement
2 The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Ms. Catherine McHale
3 The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Mrs. Aisling McDonnell
4 The Relevant Person is Ms. Catherine McHale
(The relevant person is one who can provide information in respect of how the child safeguarding statement
was developed and will be able to provide the statement on request. In a school setting the relevant person
shall be the designated liaison person.)
5 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-
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.
6 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 (revised 2023) and to the relevant agreed disciplinary procedures
for school staff which are published on the gov.ie 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
2
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 Department of Education and available
on the gov.ie 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 Tusla, all school personnel are required to
adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary
Schools (revised 2023), including in the case of registered teachers, those in relation to mandated
reporting under the Children First Act 2015.
All registered teachers employed by the school are mandated persons under the Children First Act
2015.
In accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and the Addendum to Children First (2019), 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 included with the Child Safeguarding
Statement.
The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be accessed via the school’s website, the
gov.ie website or will be made available on request by the school.
Note: The above is not intended as an exhaustive list. Individual Boards of Management shall also include in
this section such other procedures/measures that are of relevance to the school in question.
7 This statement has been published on the school’s website and has been provided to all members of school
personnel, the Parents’ Association (if any) and the patron. 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.
8 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 23/11/2023.
This Child Safeguarding Statement was reviewed by the Board of Management on 23/11/2023.
Signed: Signed:
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: 23/11/2023 Date: 23/11/2023_
3
Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment
Written Assessment of Risk of St. Peter’s N.S.
In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirements of Chapter 8
of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools (revised 2023), the
following is the Written Risk Assessment of [name of school].
1. List of school activities
Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils
Recreation breaks for pupils
Classroom teaching
One-
One-
One-
Outdoor teaching activities
Online teaching and learning remotely
Sporting Activities
School outings
Use of toilet/changing/shower areas in schools
Sports Activities/Annual Carol Service/Green Flag Days/Family Fun Quiz
Fundraising events involving pupils
Use of off-
School transport arrangements
Care of children with special educational needs, including intimate care
where needed,
Management of challenging behaviour amongst pupils,
Administration of Medicine
Administration of First Aid
Curricular provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe
Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst 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-
activities
Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/ needs such as
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Recruitment of school personnel including -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Participation by pupils in religious ceremonies/religious instruction external
to the school
4
Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school,
including social media
Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including
detention of pupils, confiscation of phones etc.
Students (T.Y. and/or S.N.A.s) participating in work experience in the school
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
2. The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities -
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 e.g. school trip, swimming lessons
Risk of harm due to inappropriate use of online remote teaching and learning
communication platform such as an uninvited person accessing the lesson
link
Risk of harm due to bullying of child
Risk of harm due to racism
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 and 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,
including medical 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-
therapy
Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel communicating with
pupils in an inappropriate 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
3. The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified
in this assessment -
All school personnel are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding
Statement
The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-
are made available to all school personnel
5
School Personnel are required to adhere to the Child Protection Procedures for
Primary and Post-
required to adhere to the Children First Act 2015 and it’s Addendum (2019)
The school implements in full the Stay Safe Programme
The school implements in full the SPHE curriculum
The school has an Anti-
of the Department’s Anti-
Schools
The school promotes multi-
The school has a yard/playground supervision policy to ensure appropriate
supervision of children during, assembly, dismissal and breaks and in respect of
specific areas such as toilets, changing rooms etc.( See overleaf)
The school has in place a policy and clear 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 DE circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda vetting
The school refers school personnel (teaching and non-
of Behaviour Policy and also refers the teaching staff to the Teaching Council’s
Code of Conduct
The school complies with the agreed disciplinary procedures for teaching staff
The school has a Special Educational Needs policy
The school has an intimate care policy/plan in respect of students who require
such care
The school has in place a policy and procedures for the administration of
medication to pupils
The school –
o Has provided each member of school staff with a copy of the school’s
Child Safeguarding Statement
o Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child
Safeguarding Statement
o Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
o Encourages board of management members to avail of relevant training
o Maintains records of all staff and board member training
The school has in place a policy and procedures for the administration of First
Aid
The school has in place a Code of Behaviour for pupils
The school has an Acceptable Use Policy in place, to include provision for online
teaching and learning remotely, and has communicated this policy to parents
The use of smart phones and tablet devices in the school by pupils is governed
by our Acceptable Use Policy as per circular 38/2018
The school has in place a Critical Incident Management Plan
The school has in place procedures for the use of external persons to supplement
delivery of the curriculum (See below)
The school has in place a policy and procedures for the use of external sports
coaches (See below)
The school has in place a policy and clear procedures for one-
activities and one to one counselling (See S.E.N. policy)
The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of student teacher
placements (see below)
The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of students
undertaking work experience in the school
The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of pupils of the
school undertaking work experience in external organisations
6
Procedures re. toilets/changing rooms
The school has the following procedures in place in respect of specific areas such as toilets,
changing rooms etc.
Toilet
Staff never use children’s toilets.
Only one child is allowed to go to the toilet at a time. Only one pupil uses a cubicle at a time.
Dignity of the child has to be maintained at all times.
Changing Rooms; Staff remain outside of changing rooms/area with the door ajar.
If a staff member has to enter a changing area, they will knock first and call out that they are entering
Procedures for the use of external persons:
The school has in place the following procedures for the use of external persons to supplement
delivery of the curriculum and the use of external sports coaches
All personnel (teaching/coaching) in the school are garda-
T.Y. students over 16 are vetted through their secondary schools
T.P. students are vetted through their Colleges of Education
A member of staff will always be present when there is a once-
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-
Schools (revised 2023)
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