Checklist for Review of the Child Safeguarding Statement 2022-23 | Saint Patrick’s Boys’ National School

Appendix 20: Mandatory Template 2:
Checklist for Review of the CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Child Safeguarding Statement

The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 requires that the Board of Management must undertake a review of its Child Safeguarding Statement and that the following checklist shall be used for this purpose. The review must be completed every year or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the Child Safeguarding Statement refers. Undertaking an annual review will also ensure that a school also meets its statutory obligation under Section 11(8), Children First Act 2015 to review its Child Safeguarding Statement every two years.

The checklist is designed as an aid to conducting this review and is not intended as an exhaustive list of the issues to be considered. Individual Boards of Management shall include other items in the checklist that are of relevance to the school in question.

As part of the overall review process, Boards of Management should also assess relevant school policies, procedures, practices and activities vis-a-vis their adherence to the principles of best practice in child protection and welfare as set out in the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement, the Children First Act 2015 and the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017

	Yes/No
1. Has the Board formally adopted a Child Safeguarding Statement in accordance with the ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post PrimarySchools 2017?	YES
2. Is the Board satisfied that the Child Safeguarding Statement is displayed in a prominent place near the main entrance to the school?	YES
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 2017?	YES
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)	YES
5. Has the Board reviewed and updated where necessary the written assessment of risk as part of this overall review?	YES
6. Has the Risk Assessment taken account of the risk of harm relevant to online teaching and learning remotely?	YES
7. Has the DLP attended available child protection training?	YES
8. Has the Deputy DLP attended available child protection training?	YES
9. Have any members of the Board attended child protection training?	YES
10. Are there both a DLP and a Deputy DLP currently appointed?	YES
11. Are the relevant contact details (Tusla and An Garda Síochána) to hand?	YES
12. Has the Board arrangements in place to communicate the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement to new school personnel?	YES
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 2017 and the Children First Act 2015?	YES
14. Has the Board received a Principals Child Protection Oversight Report (CPOR) at each Board meeting held since the last review was undertaken?	YES
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?	YES
16. Since the Board’s last review, has the Board been provided with and reviewed all documents relevant to the CPOR?	YES
17. 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 report?	YES
18. Have the minutes of each Board meeting appropriately recorded the CPOR report?	YES
19. 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?	YES
20. 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?*	YES
21. Where applicable, were unique identifiers used to record child protection matters in the Board minutes?	YES
22. Is the Board satisfied that all records relating to child protection are appropriately filed and stored securely?	YES
23. 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 2017?	NO
24. In relation to any cases identified at question 21 above, has the Board ensured that any notifications required under section 5.6 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 were subsequently issued by the DLP?	N/A
25. Has the Board ensured that the Parents’ Association (if any), has been provided with the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?	YES
26. Has the Board ensured that the patron has been provided with the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?	YES
27. Has the Board ensured that the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement is available to parents on request?	YES
28. Has the Board ensured that the Stay Safe programme is implemented in full in the school? (applies to primary schools)	YES
29. Has the Board ensured that the Wellbeing Programme for Junior Cycle students is implemented in full in the school? (applies to post- primary schools)	N/A
30. Has the Board ensured that the SPHE curriculum is implemented in full in the school?	YES
31. Is the Board satisfied that the statutory requirements for Garda Vetting have been met in respect of all school personnel (employees and volunteers)? *	YES
32. 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?*	YES
33. 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)?*	YES
34. Has the Board considered and addressed any complaints or suggestions for improvements regarding the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement?	N/A
35. 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 2017?	YES
36. Has the Board sought the feedback of pupils in relation to the school’s child safeguarding arrangements?	YES
37. Is the Board satisfied that the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 are being fully and adequately implemented by the school?	YES
38.1 Has the Board identified any aspects of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement and/or its implementation that require further improvement?	NO
38.2 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
38.3 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

Signed:

Chairperson, Board of Management
Date 22.09.'22

Signed

Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: 22.09.'22

Appendix 20: Mandatory Template 2: Checklist for Review of the CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Appendix 20: Mandatory Template 2:
Checklist for Review of the CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT