Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment
Written Assessment of Risk of Caherconlish 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 a Written Risk Assessment of Caherconlish National School
| List of School Activities | The School has identified the following Risk of Harm
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The School has the following Procedures in place to address risk identified in this assessment |
| Training of school personnel in Child Protection matters | Risk of 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 teachers and SNA’s viewed PDST Training Module on Friday 9th March in Caherconlish NS.
BOM records all records of staff and board training |
| One to one teaching | Risk of child being harmed by a member of school personnel | School has procedure in place for one to one teaching
Open doors Table between teacher and pupil Glass in window |
| Care of Children with special needs, including intimate care needs | Risk of child being harmed by a member of school personnel | Policy on intimate care and toileting to be completed |
| Toilet areas | Risk of child being harmed due to inappropriate behaviour | School has a supervision policy to ensure appropriate supervision of children to be completed |
| Curricular Provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay safe. | Risk of child being harmed or not reporting an incident due to non-teaching of same | School implements SPHE, RSE, Stay Safe in full |
| LGBT Children/Pupils perceived to be LGBT | Risk of Bullying | Anti-Bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour
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| Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils | Risk of harm from older pupils, unknown adults on the playground | Arrival and dismissal supervised by Teachers
School has a supervision policy to ensure appropriate supervision of children |
| Managing of challenging behaviour amongst pupils including appropriate use of restraint | Risk of injury to pupils and staff
|
Health & Safety Policy
Code Of Behaviour Training for staff to be completed
|
| Sports Coaches | Risk of child being harmed by the coach | Policy & Procedures in place for the use of external persons to supplement delivery of the curriculum
The school adheres to the requirements of the Garda Vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda Vetting. |
| Students participating in work experience | Risk of child being harmed by the student volunteer | Work experience Policy
Child Safeguarding Statement |
| Recreation breaks for pupils and Sensory Breaks for pupils | Risk of child being harmed by another child due to inadequate supervision SNA on sensory break with one child |
Supervision Policy and procedures in place ( to be completed) |
| Classroom teaching | Risk of child being harmed due to bullying | Anti-bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour |
| Outdoor teaching activities
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Risk of child being harmed due to injury or bullying or inadequate supervision | Anti-bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour Yard/Playground Supervision Policy |
| Sporting Activities
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Risk of child being harmed due to injury or bullying or inadequate supervision | Anti-bullying Policy
Code of Behaviour Yard/Playground Supervision Policy to be completed |
| School outings
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Risk of child being harmed due to injury or getting lost, exposure to unknown adults | Policy of School Tours/Outings to be completed
Supervision Policy |
| Annual Sports Day
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Risk of child being harmed due to injury and exposure to unknown adults/spectators
Supervision when pupils using toilet |
Supervision Policy procedures in place
Sports Day timetable and procedures adhered to |
| Fundraising events involving pupils
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Risk of child being harmed due to injury or getting lost and exposure to unknown adults | School Tour Outings Policy to be completed
Supervision Policy |
| Use of off-site facilities for school activities
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Risk of child being harmed due to injury or getting lost and exposure to unknown adults | School Tour Outings Policy
Supervision Policy |
| Administration of Medicine
Administration of First Aid
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Risk of child being harmed due to incorrect administration or dosage Who is responsible for administering medicine? |
First Aid Training
Administration of Medication Policy to be completed |
| Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils
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Risk of child being harmed due to bullying or inadequate anti-bullying policy/code of behaviour | The school has an anti-bullying policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary schools
School Code of Behaviour in place for pupils School has a Code of Conduct for school personnel |
| Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum
|
Risk of child being harmed by external personnel/inadequate supervision | Policy & Procedures in place for the use of external persons to supplement delivery of the curriculum to be completed
The school adheres to the requirements of the Garda Vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda Vetting Visitors Policy in place
|
| 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
|
Risk of child being harmed due to bullying or inadequate curriculum provision/delivery in relation to SPHE, RSE and Stay Safe | The school has an anti-bullying policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary schools
School Code of Behaviour in place for pupils The school implements in full the SPHE Curriculum including the Stay Safe Programme
|
| Recruitment of school personnel including –
· Teachers · SNA’s · 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 |
Risk of child being harmed due to possible signs of abuse not being recognised or disclosures from children not properly or promptly reported | Child Safeguarding Statement & DES procedures made available to all staff
Staff to view Tusla training module & any other online training offered by PDST
Policy of Parents / Volunteers to be completed Policy on Visiting Contractors to be completed
The school adheres to the requirements of the Garda Vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda Vetting |
| Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school
|
Risk of harm due to children inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones and other devices while at school
Risk of Cyber Bullying or exposure to inappropriate material |
ICT policy
Acceptable Use Policy Anti-Bullying Policy Code of Behaviour Procedure in place in respect of the usage of mobile phones by pupils |
| Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including detention of pupils, confiscation of phones etc.
|
Risk of harm due to inadequate code of behaviour | Supervision Policy and procedure to be completed
Code of Behaviour |
| Student teachers undertaking training placement in school
|
Risk of child being harmed by student teacher Can they take photos of pupils? |
Student Teacher Policy to be completed
Supervision Policy to be completed The school adheres to the requirements of the Garda Vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda Vetting |
| Use of video/photography/other media to record school events
|
Risk of child being harmed due to a breach of data protection and inappropriate use of images | Data Protection Policy to be completed in May 2018
Procedure in Place – Parental permission sought |
| After school use of school premises by other organisations
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At the moment, no other organisation uses school premises | Use of School Premises Policy to be completed |
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 on 27th February 2018. It will be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.
Signed 
Date 
Chairperson, Board of Management
Signed 
Date 
Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
caherconlishns.ie 