Supervision Policy

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Supervision Policy

Introduction

This policy was originally formulated in 2020. It applies to all staff and children during school hours, break times, and on all school related activities.

Rationale

Our aim is to provide a safe place for all the children in our care. In Hollypark BNS we value a safe environment and work towards providing that for the entire school community. 

The rules for National Schools 121(4) and 124(1) oblige teachers to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils during school time and during all school related activities.

Legislation such as the Health Safety and Welfare at Work Act and recent Court judgments have placed a “duty of care” and accountability on schools that must be underpinned by a policy covering all possible eventualities.

Relationship to the Characteristic Ethos of the School

This policy is in keeping with the school ethos of providing a safe and secure environment for learning for all pupils and the wider school community.

Aims and Objectives

  • To develop a framework that effectively ensures, as far as is practicable, the safety of children while at play on the yard or while engaged in school related activities.
  • To observe and monitor behavioural patterns outside the confines of the classroom.
  • To contribute to effective school management and comply with relevant legislation.

School Procedures

  • All teachers are assigned supervision duties.
  • It is the policy of the school to supervise the school yard at all times during regular lunch breaks i.e. 10:30am to 10.40a.m.  and 12.:10pm to 12:40p.m. Teachers assume a duty of care at 8:40a.m.      The Board of Management informs parents that the school does not accept responsibility for pupils who are dropped off earlier than 8:40 a.m.
  • A Rota for supervision is drawn up by the Deputy Principal in consultation with Principal/ISM Team and this Rota is displayed on the staff room notice board and on Teams.
  • Rules of the school yard are reviewed and revised continually and communicated to children regularly. “Kind words, Kind actions” -Bí Cineálta.
  • If parents indicate a worry about a particular child on the yard all teachers rostered for yard duty are informed of the concern so that the particular concerns can be addressed satisfactorily
  • Teachers on yard duty remain with the classes until the class teacher returns from break. Teachers taking a course day can swap supervision duties with a willing colleague.  If a teacher is unexpectedly absent a volunteer colleague will assume his/her duties in a reciprocal arrangement
  • At least 10 Special Needs Assistants are on duty during lunch breaks.  While these Assistants provide individual supervision for designated Special Needs children, they can act in an observing and reporting capacity, bringing instances of misbehaviour to the attention of the teacher on yard duty.  The schools anti-bullying/discipline policy covers incidents of misbehaviour.
  • Children with injuries/complaints are dealt with directly by the teacher on yard duty.
  • Children with injuries/complaints are dealt with directly by the teacher on yard duty.
  • First Aid bags and Accident Report books are kept as a matter of procedure. All accidents where there is injury involved should be noted in the yard notebook, more serious accidents/injuries are noted in The Accident Report Book in the principal’s office by the teachers on supervision or by the relevant class teacher. Where teachers suspect that a child is unwell parents are alerted, usually by phone.
  • If children remain uncollected after 2.25pm, the school always ensures that a duty of care is provided until a parent/guardian is contacted for collection.
  • At all other times each teacher is responsible for the supervision of all children under their care.
  • At dismissal time in the evening the Principal and Deputy Principal supervise the outside of the school, along the path to the school warden, to see children safely off the premises.      No supervision is provided outside the school gate.
  • Unless unavoidable, teachers should never leave their classroom unsupervised. In the event of a teacher having to leave, the teacher opposite or next door will be informed. The classroom door will remain open, and that teacher will check in until the teacher returns.
  • Younger Pupils who are withdrawn from their mainstream classroom for Resource, Learning Support or Language Support should be collected at the classroom door by the relevant teacher.

Special Provisions

  1. Out of school activities such as games, school tours provisions are put in place to ensure adequate levels of supervision. The level of supervision is usually one adult per 15 children with individual teachers in charge of specific groups.
  2. If a teacher is called from his/her classroom to meet with a parent, another member of staff may be released to cover. However, it is school policy to request parents to make appointments via Aladdin Connect.
  3. On wet days children remain in their classes under the normal supervision Rota.  Children from senior classes assist the class teachers on duty.
  4. When visiting teachers such as P.E., Music, Language, take over a class, the school encourages teachers to maintain a presence. Neither SNA’S or pupils are left in sole charge of a class
  5. The school Safety Statement lists all hazards on the school yard and supervisors are accordingly briefed.
  6. Parents may request that their children be allowed leave during the school day due to health commitments etc. The school has a sign in/sign out book for these collections at other times. 

Success Criteria and Review

  • Ensuring a safe child-friendly school yard
  • Providing well organised and safe out of school activities
  • Re-enforcing school rules termly
  • Reviewing supervision duties yearly
  • Altering or adjusting procedures deemed to be not working well.

 

Implementation

Ratified and Implemented by the BOM in September 2020 

Review

This policy will be reviewed as circumstances warrant.

Signed: 

Brendan McAndrew

            

 

Chairperson, Board of Management
September 2020

References

  1. Primary Education Management Manual – Thompson Roundhall
  2. Insurance, Safety and Security in the school – Church & General, Allianz, Marsh Insurance Brokers