This policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 2nd March 2021.
Review due: March 2022
RMDS 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 RMDS 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.
This Child Safeguarding Statement was reviewed by the Board of Management on 02nd March 2021.
Signed: Will Connor Signed: Paul Fairbrother
Chairperson of RMDS BOM Principal/Secretary to RMDS BOM
Date: 02nd February 2021 Date: 02nd February 2021
Written Assessment of Risk of RMDS
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 RMDS.
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 as;
Whether caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances, or otherwise.”
List of School Activities | The school has identified the following risks of harm in respect of its activities | The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment |
Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils | Risk of child being harmed while on school grounds | Principal/Deputy Principal ‘meet and greet’ at gate and parents/carers where possible to accompany pupils to classes. Adequate supervision by members of school personnel.
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Break times for pupils on yard | Risk of child being harmed while in the school yard | Access points to the school closed. Adequate supervision by members of school personnel (SNAs and teaching school personnel).
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Break times for pupils offsite (Mount Pleasant/Linear Park) | Risk of child being harmed while offsite | Access points offsite closed.
Adequate supervision by members of school personnel (SNAs and teaching school personnel).
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Classroom teaching | Risk of child being harmed in the school by member of school personnel or by another child | Glass panel/open door in all classrooms. Supervision of pupil interactions by school personnel.
Garda vetting of all school personnel.
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One-to-one teaching | Risk of child being harmed in the school by member of school personnel | Glass panel/open door in all support room doors
Garda vetting of all school personnel.
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Outdoor teaching activities | Risk of child being harmed while on the school grounds | Access points to the school closed. Adequate supervision by members of school personnel.
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Movement break | Risk of child being harmed while on the school grounds | Access points to the school closed. Adequate supervision by members of school personnel
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Sporting activities | Risk of child being harmed in the school/on the school grounds by member of school personnel or by another child. Risk of harm due to bullying of child | Garda vetting of all school personnel.
Supervision of pupil interactions by school personnel.
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School tours/outings | Risk of child being harmed by member of school personnel, by another child or by personnel associated with school tour locations | Garda vetting of all school personnel.
Supervision of pupil interactions by school personnel. Supervision of pupil activities involving external personnel.
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Sports day | Risk of child being harmed by volunteer or visitor | Garda vetting of volunteers in the school.
Supervision of pupil activities involving external personnel.
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School transport arrangements – bus for school tours | Risk of child being harmed by school transport providers | Supervision of pupils by school personnel.
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Care of children with S.E.N. incl. intimate care needs | Risk of harm to children with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities
Risk of harm to child while a child is receiving intimate care
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Garda vetting of all school personnel. Implementation of school SEN policy outlining procedures to be followed (2 adults must always be present re: intimate care needs).
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Care of children with intimate care needs | Risk of harm to child while a child is receiving intimate care
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Garda vetting of all school personnel. Implementation of school intimate care policy outlining procedures to be followed (2 adults must always be present re: intimate care needs).
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Administration of medication | Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel | Garda vetting of all school personnel. Implementation of administration of medication policy outlining procedures to be followed.
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Administration of First Aid | Risk of child being harmed in the school or on school grounds by a member of school personnel | Garda vetting of all school personnel. Administration of first-aid to take place in open area outside office or in the presence of a second person.
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Curricular provision in respect of SPHE – RSE, Stay Safe | Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel | Garda vetting of all school personnel.
Implementation of SPHE policy outlining age-appropriate curriculum to be followed.
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Prevention and dealing with bullying among pupils | Risk of child being harmed in the school by another child | Implementation of Code of Behaviour and Anti-bullying policy. Adequate supervision of students by school personnel
Stay Safe/SPHE programmes fully implemented.
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Management of challenging behaviour among pupils | Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel or by another child | Implementation of Code of Behaviour policy.
Supervision of pupil interactions. Garda vetting of all school personnel
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Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/needs such as; pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants, member of the Traveller community, LGBT children, pupils perceived to be LGBT, pupils of minority religious faiths, children in care | Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel or by another child. Risk of harm due to bullying of child | Garda vetting of all school personnel. Supervision of pupil interactions. Implementation of Anti-bullying policy and associated initiatives such as whole school assemblies. Implementation of Core Curriculum, including human rights initiatives.
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Recruitment of school personnel | Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel | Garda vetting of all school personnel.
Yearly review of Child Protection Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment. Child Protection documents to hand in all rooms in the school for all members of school personnel.
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Participation of pupils in religious ceremonies/religious instruction external to the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by personnel associated with religious instruction | Garda vetting of personnel involved. Instruction to take place in classroom with glass panel in door.
Classes only to be held if there is more than 1 child present. Nominated parent present outside classroom door.
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Use of ICT by pupils in the school | Risk of harm caused by pupil accessing inappropriate material via ICT devices
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Pupils supervised by members of school personnel when using ICT.
AUP agreement in place.
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Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour | Risk of child being harmed in the school by school personnel | Garda vetting of all school personnel.
Implementation of Code of Behaviour policy outlining appropriate procedures and sanctions – All school personnel made aware of the policy
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Transition year students participating in work experience in the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school | Garda vetting of students participating in work experience. Member of school personnel always present (i.e. TY student never left alone with child(ren)).
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Student teachers undertaking training placement in the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school | Garda vetting of students undertaking training placement. Member of school personnel always present (i.e. student teachers never left alone with child(ren)).
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Trainee Special Needs Assistants undertaking placement in the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school | Garda vetting of trainee Special Needs Assistants. Member of school personnel always present (i.e. trainee SNA never left alone with child(ren)).
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Use of video/photography/other media to record school events | Risk of child being harmed by member of school personnel and others accessing/circulating inappropriate or potentially inappropriate material via social media, texting, digital device or other manner | School events only to be recorded by members of school personnel/ designated recording personnel. Families reminded not to use media to record school events. If a member of school personnel uses a personal device for such, they must upload onto the school server (only) within a week and delete permanently from personal device.
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After school use of premises by School Age Childcare service
(pupils being collected at various times) |
Risk of child being harmed by member of after-school childcare personnel or by another child | Childcare provided in room with glass panels/open space (hall) or outdoors in open space.
RMDS After-School Childcare to confirm in writing to the BOM of RMDS that they have their own Child Protection Policy (Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment) in place which is reflective of the now fully enacted Children First Act 2015. Adequate supervision by Childcare personnel.
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Use of premises by School Age Childcare service for Summer Camp
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Risk of child being harmed by member of after-school childcare personnel or by another child | RMDS After-School Childcare to confirm in writing to the BOM of RMDS that they have their own Child Protection Policy (Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment) in place which is reflective of the now fully enacted Children First Act 2015.
Adequate supervision by Childcare personnel.
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After school use of premises for extracurricular activities not run by school personnel – Squash, Junior Einstein, Violin etc.
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Risk of child being harmed by personnel running extra-curricular activities | Garda vetting of personnel involved. Personnel to confirm in writing to the BOM of RMDS that they will comply with the Child Protection policy of the school. Activities to take place outdoors in open space or in classroom with glass panels.
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Use of off-site facilities for school activities | Risk of child being harmed by others using the facility | Supervision of pupils at all times by members of school personnel
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Forest School | Risk of children being harmed offsite | Risk assessment of area completed.
Garda vetting of Forest School leader and school personnel. Adequate supervision of children by Forest School leader and school personnel.
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Involvement of personnel to supplement the curriculum (regular basis) – e.g. sports coaches | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Garda vetting of external personnel used to supplement the curriculum. Members of school personnel always present for the duration of activity.
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Involvement of personnel to supplement the curriculum (one-off visit) – Visiting authors, workshops etc. | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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School personnel always present for the duration of the activity to supervise the interactions of such personnel with the pupils.
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Visits from external agencies/community members – Tusla (Social worker/EWO), School personnel from Educate Together National office, Visiting Teacher for the Deaf, PDST personnel, DES Inspectorate, Pastoral worker etc. | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Sign-in book at reception to account for all visitors present in the school. Such visitors not left alone with pupils (i.e. always accompanied by a member of school personnel)
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Visits from book company representatives, sales representatives etc. | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Sign-in book at reception to account for all visitors present in the school. Such visitors not left alone with pupils (i.e. always accompanied by a member of school personnel)
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Delivery companies, bin collections, contractors and maintenance workers | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Sign-in book at reception to account for all visitors present in the school. Such visitors not left alone with pupils (i.e. always accompanied by a member of school personnel)
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International visitors – DCU partners etc. (one-off visits) | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Sign-in book at reception to account for all visitors present in the school. Such visitors not left alone with pupils (i.e. always accompanied by a member of school personnel)
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HSE vaccinations | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Sign-in book at reception to account for all visitors present in the school. Parents/carers to sign documentation for administration of vaccinations. Vaccinations to take place in room with glass panels and more than one pupil present at a time. There will also be a member of school personnel present.
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HSE hearing and vision tests | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Sign-in book at reception to account for all visitors present in the school. Parents/carers to sign documentation permitting hearing and vision testing of their child. Testing to take place in room with glass panels.
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School cleaner (ISS) | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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School cleaners only work in the school outside of school hours (i.e. after 1:10pm in Infant rooms and 2:10pm in Senior rooms)
Garda Vetting in place.
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Parents/family volunteers in the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Garda vetting of family volunteers. Such volunteers are accompanied by a member of school personnel when interacting with pupils.
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BOM and PA members attending meetings/visiting the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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BOM and PA meeting held outside school hours when children are not present. When visiting the school during school hours they are accompanied by a member of school personnel.
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Prospective parents visiting the school | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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When visiting the school during school hours they are accompanied by a member of school personnel.
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School concerts (Christmas, Seachtain na Gaeilge, end-of-year etc.) | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Pupils supervised at all times by member of school personnel.
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Fundraising/PA events | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
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Pupils supervised at all times by member of school personnel or parents.
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Official school photographs | Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school | Pupils supervised at all times by member of school personnel.
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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 was reviewed by the Board of Management on 02nd March 2021. It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.
Signed: Will Connor Signed: Paul Fairbrother
Chairperson of RMDS BOM Principal/Secretary to RMDS BOM
Date: 02nd March 2021 Date: 02nd March 2021