Appendix 2 – Good Practice within Scoil Mhuire, Milford.
These guidelines apply to pupils, teachers and staff members during school time and to all school related activities where pupils are expected to attend. In its policies, practices and activities, Scoil Mhuire, Milford will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:
The school will:
- Recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations;
- fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters
- adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave themselves open to accusations of abuse or neglect;
- develop a practice of openness with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children; and fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters
Good Practice Guidelines
The staff of Scoil Mhuire have identified the following areas and agreed good practice guidelines as follows:
While every effort will be made to adhere to best practice as agreed and outlined below, in the event of an emergency where this is not possible or practicable a full record of the incident should be made and reported to principal, parents of children involved and Board of Management as appropriate.
Physical Contact
Physical contact between school personnel and the child should always be in response to the needs of the child and not the needs of the adult. While physical contact may be used to comfort, reassure or assist a child the following should be factors in determining its appropriateness:-
- It is acceptable to the child
- It is open and not secretive
- The age and developmental stage of the child
School personnel should avoid doing anything of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves.
Reluctance to come to school by younger pupils; Children who are reluctant to come into school must be accompanied to the classroom door by a parent/guardian or babysitter.
All children should be treated with equal respect – favouritism is not acceptable.
Media Products; Staff will always ensure that any DVD shown to the children is age appropriate. Scoil Mhuire is a primary school and as such the following are the only DVDs that should be shown to children:
General Viewing (G)
Parental Guidance (PG)
12 A (for children who are twelve years old with adult supervision)
No DVDs rated as suitable for 15 year olds, 18 year olds or adults will be shown to the children.
Children with specific toileting/intimate care needs
In all situations where a pupil needs assistance with toileting/intimate care a meeting will be convened, after enrolment and before the child starts school, between parents/guardians, class teacher, special needs assistant, principal and if appropriate the pupil. The purpose of the meeting will be ascertaining the specific needs of the child and to determine how the school can best meet those needs. The staff to be involved in this care will be identified and practices which are acceptable to the staff, the child and the parents will be agreed. Provision will be made for occasions when the particular staff involved is absent.
Two members of staff will be present when dealing with intimate care/toileting needs.
This is in keeping with best practice, keeps the best interests of the child to the fore and maintains the child’s personal dignity. Such procedures, when agreed will be communicated to all parties involved and recorded and any deviation from the agreed procedure will be recorded and notified to the DLP and the parents/guardians. The Board of Management will also be made aware of practices agreed.
Toileting / Toileting Accidents
It is school policy that only one child is permitted to enter the toilet cubicle at a time. Children who need to use the toilet during yard time must seek the permission of the teacher on yard. During yard time the toilet area closest to the yard will be used.
Clean underwear and replacement clothing will be kept in the infant classroom. Where a toileting accident occurs, the student(s) will be offered a replacement tracksuit and clean underwear. In circumstances where a student is unable to ‘clean’ and/or ‘change’ themselves, the school will contact his/her parent/guardian. In the event that contact cannot be made with a parent/guardian, an older sibling or two members of staff familiar with the student will facilitate. A written record of all such incidents will be maintained and the Parents informed.
Changing for Games/PE/Swimming/ School Tours
Pupils will be expected to dress and undress themselves for games/PE/Swimming. In such situations where assistance is required the parent/guardian (or SNA where appropriate) of the child will be asked to assist the child. Parents are requested to ensure children wear suitable clothing i.e. easy to change
Children from 1st to 6th classes take part in swimming lessons. Staff will avoid assisting children with anything of a personal nature that child can do for him/herself. Clear boundaries are set down if volunteers are involved in assisting with changing, supervision, etc. Parents are notified if volunteers are assisting children. Two adults will be present while children are changing. Children are encouraged to place all their gear in their bag. Teachers remain by pool during lesson. If child returns to dressing room during lesson a teacher will accompany them. Children are not allowed bring shampoos or sprays.
Games: In school, boys change in cloakroom within a time frame and girls in Bathroom. Parents are requested to ensure children wear suitable clothing i.e. easy to change. Staff will avoid assisting children with anything of a personal nature that child can do for him/herself. At football field, children change in dressing rooms supervised by a minimum of two adults.
Any incident or concern is reported to principal, parents of child and B.O.M.
See School Tours policy / Swimming policy
One to One Teaching
It is the policy in this school that one to one teaching is often in the best interest of the child. Every effort will be made to ensure that this teaching takes place in an open environment. Parents of children who are to be involved in one to one teaching will be informed and their agreement sought. Where possible, children in Special Education will be taught in small groups. Work being carried out by special needs assistants will be carried out under the direction of the class teacher in an open environment. LST teachers keep classroom doors open and sit at table in view of door. Children are taken only at time tabled times. Any incident or concern is reported to principal, parents of child and B.O.M.
Children travelling in staff cars
Teachers will not carry children alone in their cars. At least two children must travel with the teacher in the car or another adult and child
Visitors/Guest Speakers: Visitors/Guest Speakers should not be left alone with students. The school has a responsibility to check out the credentials of all visitors/guest speakers and to ensure that the material they are sharing with the students is age appropriate. Teachers on playground duty will be aware of visitors entering the school playground and will ascertain their intentions. They will be supervised in the discharge of the business,.
Collection of children by person not known to staff during the school day
If parents/guardians or person who normally collects a child is unavailable to do so, the school must be informed in advance of arrangements. Children will not be released to an unauthorised person under any circumstances. Parents will be send a reminder in September and January to send into school an updated list.
Access
Access to the school during the day is only through the door with buzzer. Parents/Visitors are requested to wait at front door until they have introduced themselves to the playschool leader / a teacher or an SNA.
Supervision
Every effort will be made to ensure that there is comprehensive supervision of children throughout the school day. A roster of staff for playground supervision will be drawn up each year and displayed in the staff room. Children are to be visible in the playground. Children are instructed not to leave the playground or engage with adults outside of the playground. Children are not permitted to spend break times in the classrooms except on wet days when supervision is in place. Children are seen off the school premises by the supervising teacher. Infants are collected in the school yard. (See supervision policy).
First aid – See first aid policy.
Miss Tighe is the qualified first Aid person in the school. When a child falls on yard, child goes into the bathroom in classroom, pulls down tights and comes out to show the cut. The cut is cleaned, dressed by an SNA or teacher and child goes back into the bathroom to pull up the tights.
Illness
Should a child become ill during the school day, the secretary or a member of staff will contact the parent/guardian to take the child home. If we fail to contact the parents the child will remain in school unless seriously ill, in which case the child will be taken straight to the doctor or hospital. Sanction for this is sought at time of enrolment)
Court Orders
In all cases where the school has been made aware of and received a copy of same, all conditions relating to school will be complied with. Principal will make teachers aware of such orders.
Attendance: Our school attendance will be monitored as per our attendance policy. With regards to child protection we will pay particular attention to trends in non- attendance. We will also monitor non- attendance in correlation with signs of neglect/physical/emotional abuse.
Behaviour
Children are encouraged at all times to play cooperatively and inappropriate behaviour will be addressed under our Code of Behaviour. If an incident occurs which we consider to be of a sexualised nature we will notify the DLP who will record it and respond to it appropriately.
Recruitment and Selection of Staff:
Follow D.E.S and C.P.S.M.A guidelines.
Gárda Vetting
All staff employed from September 2012 will not be allowed work with the children until they are vetted by the GárdaÃ. The Teaching Council arrange teacher vetting for newly qualified teachers and Diocese of Cloyne for SNA/ ancillary staff. Staff will be asked for copies of their vetting forms and these will be kept on file in the principal’s office.
Internet Safety
See Acceptable use policy / mobile Phone Policy/ Anti- bullying Policy
Hiring of Buses
Bus worthy certificates must be viewed and driver must have Garda vetting.
Parents must sign notes stating who their child is travelling to a match with.
Staff will review this policy every year and when the need arises.
