St.Louis Infant School

Child Protection Policy

This policy was drafted by the Principal of the school following a training day for Designated Liaison Persons. The draft was circulated among the teachers and discussed at a subsequent staff meeting. It was then discussed at a Board of Management meeting and then circulated to parents by the Parents`Association
Rationale
Mindful of it's primary duty of care, the Board of Management of St. Louis Infant School fully endorses Children First, the designated guidelines for the protection and welfare of children as issued by the Department of Health and Children, September 1999 and Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures from the Department of Education & Science, April 2001.
Relationship to Characteristic School Ethos
Our school cherishes all children and staff equally and wishes to make provision for the safety and welfare of all so that school will provide it's students with the highest possible standard of protection and care in order to promote each child's well-being and protect them from harm while in the school.

Designated Liaison Person (D.L.P)

• The Board nominates Mrs. Tina McTiernan as the designated liaison person (D.L.P) to act as a liaison with outside agencies such as the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and other parties and as a resource person to any staff having child protection concerns.
• In the absence of Mrs. Mc Tiernan, Ms.Siobhan Rocks will act as Deputy Designated Liaison Person.
• The Board will ensure that appropriate and on going training as necessary will be available for D.L.P and the D.D.L.P.

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 staff both teaching and non-teaching.
• 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 D.E.S. 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.

Duty of Care
The Board recognises that it has two duties of care.

• The primary duty is the protection, safety and welfare of the children attending St. Louis Infant School.
• The Board as an employer also has duties and responsibilities towards it's employees.

Responsibilities of Board of Management and staff
This policy addresses the responsibilities of the school in the following areas:
1. Prevention - curriculum provision.
2. Procedures - procedures for dealing with concerns/disclosures.
3. Practice - best practice in child protection.

• A copy of this policy document and the relevant sections from the D.E.S. Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures will be made available to all staff.
• 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.

It is incumbent on all staff to familiarise themselves with Children First and the D.E.S. Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures.
These documents are available in the Main Office.

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 school's S.P.H.E curriculum under the strand unit Safety and Protection. Parents will be informed that this programme is in use in the school at enrolment and a copy of the Stay Safe "A Parent's Guide" provided on request. The formal lessons will be taught in Senior Infants. Staff will reinforce the messages of the programme whenever appropriate.
The School Policy on Discipline, The Anti- Bullying Policy and Health and Safety Policy also highlight personal safety .

Procedures

Child Abuse falls under four headings:

• Neglect
• Emotional Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse

In identifying abuse signs should be examined in the total context of the child's situation and family circumstances. Three stages should be followed:
(1) Consider the possibility.
(2) Looking out for signs of abuse.
(3) Recording information

All staff teachers, special needs assistants, ancillary staff, secretary, caretaker in this school will follow the recommendations for reporting concerns or disclosures as outlined in Children First and the D.E.S Guidelines (pps.5-20). When handling a disclosure,

• Remain calm.
• Listen to the child with sensitivity and openness.
• Take all disclosures seriously.
• Do not ask leading questions or make suggestions to the child.
• Offer reassurance but do not make promises.
• Do not stop a child recalling significant events.
• Do not over react.
• Explain that further help may have to be sought.
• Record the discussion accurately and retain the record of dates, times, names, locations, context and factual details of conversation.
• Pass information to the D.L.P. and school will retain a record.

If all are satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the suspicion, the procedures for reporting as laid out in Children First Section 4:4 p.38 will be adhered to. The D.L.P will inform the Chairperson of the Board of Management before contacting the relevant authorities unless the situation demands more immediate action to be taken for the safety of the child in which case the Chairperson may be informed after the report has been submitted.
If a child is at immediate risk and a duty Social Worker is unavailable An Garda Síochána will be contacted.
Information about abuse will be shared on a need to know basis only. Confidentiality for the child will be maintained at all times.

Allegations against employees
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 from the Department of Education & Science 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.

Practice

Staff recruitment: The board fully endorses arrangements for the vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff as outlined in Circular 0094/2006, June 2006, for the Department of Education & Science.
Internet: The I.T. Acceptable Use Policy is designed to insure that children do not have access to unsuitable web sites and their use of the Internet is supervised at all times.
Outings: Supervision on outings and school tours is by staff members already vetted by An Garda Síochána.
Swimming: Parents or an adult nominated by parents accompany children to the pool and supervise them during their lessons.
Visitors: Security system in place. Doors are locked between 9.15 and 1.40 and entry to the school is restricted. Visitors must be identified before the door is opened.
Release: Children are released only to those authorised by parents. Teachers must be informed by letter or word of mouth if an arrangement is changed.
Coaches/Trainers: Teachers stay with children when football coaches or other outside personnel are working with pupils.
One to One: One to one teaching is conducted in rooms with a glass window or half glass wall.
Toileting accidents: If changing is required another adult or child will be present.
Children with specific toileting/intimate care needs will have written permission from parents for carer to deal with these.
In our infant school physical contact of a non threatening nature will occur on a regular basis e.g. helping with writing, toileting or play needs.

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.
Recognising that the safety and well being of children attending the school is a priority the Board undertakes to include Child Protection and Health and Safety matters as items on the agenda of Board of Management meetings.
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 will be made and reported to the Principal and parents.
Communication
The Board undertakes to circulate this Child Protection policy statement to all parents and guardians at time of enrolment and subsequent to major amendment thereafter. This policy statement and "Children First" will be available for viewing at the school office.
This policy statement regarding Child Protection at St. Louis Infant School applies to all staff, members of the Board of Management, volunteers and contractors working in the school.