Mandatory Template 1: Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment Template
Written Assessment of Risk of St. Patrick’s Girls National School
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 St. Patrick’s Girls’ National School.
|
1. List of school activities |
2. The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities –
|
3. The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment –
|
| Training of school personnel in Child Protection matters | Harm not recognised or reported promptly
|
Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staff
DLP& DDLP to attend PDST face to face training All Staff to view Túsla training module & any other online training offered by PDST
BOM records all records of staff and board training. The school ensures that all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement The school encourages board of management members to avail of relevant training
|
| One to one teaching | Harm by school personnel
Harm not recognised or reported promptly
|
School has policy in place for one to one teaching in Special Education Policy
Table between teacher and pupil Uncovered Glass in window Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staff
|
| Care of Children with special needs, including intimate care needs | Harm by school personnel | Child Safeguarding Statement
Special Education Needs Policy
|
| Toilet areas | Inappropriate behaviour
Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school |
Daily Procedures Policy (All pupils are accompanied to the toilets on the top corridor).No child will ever be on their own with a staff member in the toilet. |
| Curricular Provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay safe. | Non-teaching of same | SPHE Policy. SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe in full. SPHE Coordinator ensure that teachers receive resources and are informed of any upcoming courses.
BOM signs off on teaching of Stay Safe programme every year. |
| LGBT Children/Pupils perceived to be LGBT | Bullying | Anti-Bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour
|
| Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils | Harm from older pupils, unknown adults in the school | Dismissal supervised by Teachers
Daily Procedures Policy Parents drop child at bottom of stairs and are not permitted to enter classrooms unless permission is granted by principal. |
| Managing of challenging behaviour amongst pupils, including appropriate use of restraint | Injury to pupils and staff | Special Education Policy
Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour |
| Sports Coaches/Music Tutor/ Dancing teachers/ Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum | Harm to pupils | Child Safeguarding Statement.
Health & Safety Policy Code of Behaviour Class Teacher is always present |
| Students participating in work experience | Harm by student | Child Safeguarding Statement.
Special Education Policy Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour |
| Recreation breaks for pupils | Harm to pupils
Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school
|
Special Education Policy
Health & Safety Policy Code Of Behaviour |
| Classroom teaching | Harm to pupils
Inappropriate Curriculum Content |
Special Education Policy
Health & Safety Policy Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour Acceptable Use Policy School Plans Long Term Plans Short Term Plans |
| Homework club
|
Harm to pupils | Health & Safety Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour |
| Annual Sports Day
|
Harm to pupils | Health & Safety Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour Acceptable Use Policy Daily Procedures Policy |
| Fundraising events involving pupils
|
Harm to pupils | Health & Safety Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour Acceptable Use Policy Daily Procedures Policy |
| Use of off-site facilities for school activities
|
Harm to pupils | Health & Safety Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour Acceptable Use Policy |
| School transport arrangements
|
Harm to pupils
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 |
Health & Safety Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour Acceptable Use Policy |
| Care of any vulnerable pupils, including intimate care where needed
|
Harm to pupils | Health & Safety Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement Code of Behaviour Acceptable Use Policy Special Education Policy |
| Administration of Medicine
Administration of First Aid
|
Harm to pupils
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 |
Substance Abuse Policy
Health and Safety Policy |
| Curricular provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe
|
Harm to pupils | SPHE Policy |
| Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils
|
Harm to pupils | Anti-Bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour SPHE Policy |
| Care of pupils with specific vulnerabilities/ needs such as
· Pupils from ethnic minorities/migrants · Members of the Traveller community · Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) children · Pupils perceived to be LGBT · Pupils of minority religious faiths · Children in care · Children on CPNS
|
Harm to pupils | Anti-Bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour SPHE Policy Stay Safe Programme Special Education Policy |
| Recruitment of school personnel including –
· Teachers · SNA’s · Substitue teacher or SNA · Caretaker/Secretary/Cleaners · Sports coaches · External Tutors/Guest Speakers · Volunteers/Parents in school activities · Visitors/contractors present in school during school hours · Visitors/contractors present during after school activities
|
Harm not recognised or properly or promptly reported
Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school |
Meet with Principal/Deputy Principal before commencement
and Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staff
Staff to view Tusla training module & any other online training offered by PDST
Vetting Procedures
|
| Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school
|
Bullying
Risk of harm due to children inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones and other devices while at school |
Acceptable Use policy
Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Behaviour |
| Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including detention of pupils, confiscation of phones etc.
|
Harm to Pupils | Acceptable Use policy
Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Behaviour |
| Student teachers undertaking training placement in school
|
Harm to pupils | Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staff
Staff to view Tusla training module & any other online training offered by PDST
Vetting Procedures
|
| Use of video/photography/other media to record school events
|
Harm to pupils
Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship/communications between child and another child or adult |
Acceptable Use policy
Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Behaviour |
| Use of mobile phones and other ieds by parents working in a volunteer capacity at Parent Group events such as School Disco | Harm to Pupils
Risk of harm not being reported properly and promptly to/by school personnel Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel communicating with pupils in appropriate manner via social media, texting, digital device or other manner |
Acceptable Use Policy
Volunteers are not allowed to use mobile phones for personal use in front of pupils at school events.
|
| One to One Intervention with outside Agencies | Harm to Pupils
Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching, counselling, coaching situation |
Express permission needs to be granted by parents/guardians and principal to carry out work within the school setting. |
| 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 |
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 has been completed by the Board of Management in March 2018. It shall be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement and was reviewed on April 1st 2019.
Examples of activities, risks and procedures
The examples listed in this document are provided to assist schools in undertaking their risk assessment under the Children First Act, 2015. Schools should note that this list of examples is not intended to be exhaustive. It is the responsibility of each school to ensure, as far as possible, that any other risks and procedures that are relevant to its own particular circumstances are identified and specified in the written risk assessment and that adequate procedures are in place to address all risks identified.
It is acknowledged that schools already have in place a range of policies, practices and procedures to mitigate the risk of harm to children while they are participating in the activities of the school and that some school activities will carry low or minimal risks of harm compared to others. In the context of the risk assessment that must be undertaken by schools, the Children First Act, 2015 refers to risk as “any potential for harm”. Therefore, it is important that, as part of its risk assessment process, each school lists and reviews all of its various activities (which shall include identifying those that may carry low risk of harm as well as those that carry higher risks of harm). Doing so will help the school to (1) identify, as required under the Children First Act, 2015, any risks of harm that may exist in respect of the school’s activities, (2) identify and assess the adequacy of the various procedures already in place to manage those risks of harm and (3) identify and put in place any such additional procedures as are considered necessary to manage any risk identified.
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.