Mandatory Template 2: Checklist for Review of the Child Safeguarding Statement

Yes/No

1. Has the Board formally adopted a Child Safeguarding Statement in accordance with the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023)?

y

2. Is the Board satisfied that the Child Safeguarding Statement is displayed in a prominent place near the main entrance to the school?

y

3. As part of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement, has the Board formally adopted, without modification, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023)?

y

4. Does the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement include a written assessment of risk as required under the Children First Act 2015? (This includes considering the specific issue of online safety as required by the Addendum to Children First)

y

5. Has the Board reviewed and updated where necessary the written assessment of risk as part of this overall review?

y

6. Has the Risk Assessment taken account of the risk of harm relevant to online teaching and learning remotely?

y

7. Has the DLP attended available child protection training?

y

8. Has the Deputy DLP attended available child protection training?

y

9. Have any members of the Board attended child protection training?

y

10. Has the school appointed a DLP and a Deputy DLP?

y

11. Are the relevant contact details (Tusla and An Garda Síochána) to hand?

y

12. Has the Board arrangements in place to communicate the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement to new school personnel?

y

13. Is the Board satisfied that all school personnel have been made aware of their responsibilities under the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) and the Children First Act 2015?

y

14. Has the Board received a Principal’s Child Protection Oversight Report (CPOR) at each Board meeting held since the last review was undertaken?

y

15. Since the Board’s last review, did each CPOR contain all of the information required under each of the 4 headings set out in sections 9.5 to 9.8 inclusive of the procedures?

y

16. Since the Board’s last review, has the Board been provided with and reviewed all records relevant to the CPOR?

y

17. Is the Board satisfied that the records provided are anonymised and redacted as necessary to ensure that the identities of children and any other parties, including school personnel, to whom the concern or report relates are not disclosed?

y

18. Since the Board’s last review, have the minutes of each Board meeting appropriately recorded the records provided to the Board as part of CPOR?

y

19. Have the minutes of each Board meeting appropriately recorded the CPOR?

y

20. Is the Board satisfied that the child protection procedures in relation to the making of reports to Tusla/An Garda Síochána were appropriately followed in each case reviewed?

y

21. Is the Board satisfied that, since the last review, all appropriate actions are being or have been taken in respect of any member of school personnel against whom an allegation of abuse or neglect has been made?*

Y

22. Where applicable, were unique identifiers used to record child protection matters in the Board minutes?

y

23. Is the Board satisfied that all records relating to child protection are appropriately filed and stored securely?

y

24. Has the Board been notified by any parent in relation to that parent not receiving the standard notification required under section 5.6 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023)?

N

25. In relation to any cases identified at question 20 above, has the Board ensured that any notifications required under section 5.6 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) were subsequently issued by the DLP?

N.A.

26. Has the Board ensured that the Parents’ Association (if any), has been provided with the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?

y

27. Has the Board ensured that the patron has been provided with the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?

Y

28. Has the Board ensured that the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement is available to parents on request?

y

29. Has the Board ensured that the Stay Safe programme is implemented in full in the school? (applies to primary schools)

N.A.

30. Has the Board ensured that the Wellbeing Programme for Junior Cycle students is implemented in full in the school? (applies to post-primary schools)

Y

31. Has the Board ensured that the SPHE curriculum is implemented in full in the school?

Y

32. Is the Board satisfied that the statutory requirements for Garda Vetting have been met in respect of all school personnel (employees and volunteers)? *

Y

33. Is the Board satisfied that the Department’s requirements in relation to the provision of a child protection related statutory declaration and associated form of undertaking have been met in respect of persons appointed to teaching and non-teaching positions?*

Y

34. Is the Board satisfied that, from a child protection perspective, thorough recruitment and selection procedures are applied by the school in relation to all school personnel (employees and volunteers)?*

y

35. Has the Board considered and addressed any complaints or suggestions for improvements regarding the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?

N.A.

36. Has the Board sought the feedback of parents in relation to the school’s compliance with the requirements of the child safeguarding requirements of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023)?

Y

37. Has the Board sought the feedback of pupils in relation to the school’s child safeguarding arrangements?

N

38. Is the Board satisfied that the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) are being fully and adequately implemented by the school?

Y

39. Has the Board identified any aspects of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and/or its implementation that require further improvement?

N

40. Has the Board put in place an action plan containing appropriate timelines to address those aspects of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and/or its implementation that have been identified as requiring further improvement?

N.A.

41. Has the Board ensured that any areas for improvement that were identified in any previous review of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement have been adequately addressed?

N.A.