Lucan East ETNS Child Protection Policy

We believe that all children have the right to be safe in our society and that we must have in place procedures that will help protect them. This draft policy has been drawn up in line with the current recommendations and guidelines relating to child abuse prevention and child protection guidelines. It addresses the responsibilities of the school in the following areas:

• Prevention – Curriculum provision.
• Procedures – Procedures for dealing with concerns/disclosures.
• Practice – Best practice in child Protection.

This policy is available to all staff members on the school Network and a copy of the ‘Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures’ (DES, 2001) and ‘Children First’ (Dept. Health and Children, 1999) is available to all in the staff library, to allow all staff members to familiarise themselves with correct child protection procedures.

Aims

• Create a safe, trusting, responsive and caring environment for all pupils.
• To ensure that all staff are aware of what action to take when dealing with a child protection issue.
• Develop awareness and responsibility in the area of child protection amongst the whole school community.
• Put in practice procedures to protect all pupils and staff.
• Ensure that all staff members are aware of and familiar with the “Children First” and DES guidelines and procedures in relation to reporting concerns and/or disclosures of child abuse.
• Provide for ongoing training in this and related areas for all school staff.

Prevention

The ‘Stay Safe Programme’ is the primary resource used in Lucan East E.T.N.S. to provide education for children on abuse prevention. The programme is taught as part of the school’s SPHE curriculum under the strand units Safety and Protection and Personal Safety.

The formal lessons will be taught in their entirety every second year, in accordance with the SPHE two year cycle.

The staff will reinforce the messages of the programme whenever possible.

On enrolment of the child, parents will be informed at various meetings that the “Stay Safe” programme is used at all class levels in the school and a copy of “Stay safe – A Parent’s Guide” will be provided.

CHILD PROTECTION AT Lucan East ETNS.

Schools have an obligation to provide students with the highest possible standard of care in order to promote their well-being and protect them from harm.  The school’s personnel are placed purposefully to observe changes in behaviour, failure to develop or outward signs of abuse in pupils.

• Mindful of this primary duty of care, the Board of Management of Lucan East ETNS fully endorses ‘Children First’ (Dept. Health and Children, Sept., 1999) and the ‘Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures’ (Dept. Ed. and Science, 2001) and all concerns around or disclosures of child abuse will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines contained therein.
• The Board nominates the Principal (Eddie Fox) as the designated liaison person (DLP) to act as a liaison with outside agencies such as health board and as a resource person to any staff having child protection concerns.
• In the absence of the Principal, Gráinne McManus will act as Deputy Designated Liaison Person (DDLP).
• The Board will ensure that appropriate and on-going training as necessary will be available for the DLP and the DDLP.
• Recognising that the safety and well being of children attending the school is a priority, the Board undertakes to include Child Protection & Health & Safety matters as items on the agenda of all Board meetings forthwith.
• The Board will ensure that all school staff, teaching and non-teaching are aware of their obligations under the guidelines detailed in ‘Children First’ and the procedures to be followed in the event of concern.
• The Board recognises that it has two duties of care.  The primary duty is the protection, safety and welfare of the children attending Lucan East ETNS.  The Board as an employer also has duties and responsibilities towards its employees.
• As an employer, the Board will seek legal advice if an allegation of abuse is made against a school employee.
• The Board will adhere to the protocol outlined in Ch. 4.  ‘Allegations or Suspicions of Child Abuse by School Employees’, in ‘Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures’ (D.E.S., 2001), to authorise any actions required to protect the children in its care.  The Board notes that school employees may be subject to erroneous or malicious allegations.  Any allegation of abuse should be dealt with sensitively.  The employee should be treated fairly which includes the right not to be judged in advance of a full and fair enquiry.  The Board accepts that the principles of natural justice and fair procedures must be adhered to.
• The Board believes that the academic, personal and social development of children flourishes in a culture where good relationships are encouraged, people feel valued and respected and appropriate support is available for those in difficulty.
• The Board is committed to the maintenance of the environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to express themselves and are listened to.  All children in the school will be made aware that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried.  In addition, opportunities will be included in the curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to keep them safe.
• The Board undertakes to circulate this Child Protection Policy Statement to all parents and guardians at time of enrolment and on a regular basis thereafter.  This policy statement and ‘Children First’ will be available for viewing at the school office.
• This policy statement regarding Child Protection at Lucan East ETNS applies to all staff, members of the Board of Management, volunteers and contractors working in the school.
• This policy statement will be subject to review at the start of each academic year forthwith.

The following Practices will be adopted:

• The class teacher will always stay with their class (e.g. visitors/ guests/coaches/trips etc.)
• Toileting accidents

(1)   Wetting:  children will be provided with clean clothes to change themselves.  If child is unable to change themselves without help, 2 staff members will assist child.

(2)   Soiling:  parents will always be contacted for soiling incidents.  Clean clothes and wipes will be provided for children who can clean and change themselves.  The parents of children who are unable to clean and change themselves will be asked to come to the school to clean and change the child. In the event of the parent being unavailable and they agree to it a teacher/SNA will help the child to change in the presence of another member of staff.

• Children with specific toileting/intimate care needs – a procedure will be agreed between the teachers, SNAs and parents in question.
• During one to one teaching the door will be left open.
• Garda vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff as outlined in DES circular 94/06 is mandatory for the recruitment and selection of all staff.
• Supervision of pupils – children will never be left unsupervised at school. In the case of wet playtime, classroom doors will be left open and teachers on duty will share the supervision of all classes while teachers have their lunch.
• Internet Use – An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) will be implemented in the school.
• Mobile Phones – Our Mobile Phone Policy states that phones may not be used by pupils at any time during the school day, on the school grounds. Teachers/Classroom staff may not use their phone during teaching time.

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 event should be made and reported to the Principal and the BOM.

Strategy

DLP and Deputy DLP	The Principal (Eddie Fox) will act as the Designated Liason Person and the Deputy Principal (Gráinne McManus) will act as the deputy liason person and in their absence Linda Maher.
BOM	The Chairperson of the Board of Management (Fionnuala Ward) is responsible for Child Protection.
Lines of Communication	Clear lines of communication are in place if any member of the school personnel suspects that a child may be a victim of abuse.
Highlighted Concern Form	All concerns are written on the Highlighted Concern Form and then handed to the DLP or deputy DLP who then takes the appropriate action.
Training	The DLP and his deputy regularly attend training and then update school personnel of changes in procedures etc.

We believe the above strategy is effective in dealing with highlighted child protection concerns.