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Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

Written Assessment of Risk of St Nicholas Monastery NS

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 the Written Risk Assessment of St Nicholas Monastery NS.

  1. List of school activities
  • Training of school personnel in Child Protection matters
  • One to one teaching
  • Care of children with special needs, including intimate care needs
  • Toilet areas
  • Curricular Provision in respect of SPHE, RSE, Stay safe.
  • LGBT Children/Pupils perceived to be LGBT
  • Daily arrival and dismissal of pupils
  • Managing of challenging behaviour amongst pupils
  • Sports Coaches
  • Students participating in work experience
  • Recreation breaks for pupils
  • Classroom teaching
  • Outdoor teaching activities
  • School Summer Camps
  • Sporting Activities
  • Homework club
  • School outings
  • Annual Sports Day
  • Fundraising events involving pupils
  • Use of off-site facilities for school activities
  • School transport arrangements
  • Administration of medicine
  • Administration of First Aid
  • Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst pupils
  • Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum
  • 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
  • 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
  • Use of school premises by other organisation during school day
  • Use of Information and Communication Technology by pupils in school
  • Student teachers undertaking training placement in school
  • Use of video/photography/other media to record school events
  • After school use of school premises by other organisations
  • HSCL Parental and family learning activities
  1. The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities -
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​Risk of harm not being recognised by school personnel
  • Risk of harm not being reported properly and promptly by school personnel
  • Risk of child being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel
  • Risk of child being harmed in the school by another child
  • Risk of child being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school
  • Risk of child being harmed by a member of school personnel, a member of staff of another organisation or other person while child participating in out of school activities e.g. school trip, swimming lessons
  • Risk of child being harmed by an unknown adult who may enter the school grounds without permission
  • Risk of harm due to bullying of child
  • Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children in school
  • Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children while attending out of school activities
  • Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship/communications between child and another child or adult
  • Risk of harm due to children inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones and other devices while at school
  • Risk of harm to children with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities
  • Risk of harm to child while a child is receiving intimate care
  • Risk of harm due to inadequate code of behaviour
  • Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching, counselling, coaching situation
  • Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel communicating with pupils in appropriate manner via social media, texting, digital device or other manner
  • Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel accessing/circulating inappropriate material via social media, texting, digital device or other manner
  1. The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment -
  • All school personnel are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
  • The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 are made available to all school personnel
  • School Personnel are required to adhere to the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and all registered teaching staff are required to adhere to the Children First Act 2015
  • The school implements in full the Stay Safe Programme
  • The school implements in full the SPHE curriculum
  • The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary Schools
  • The school has a yard/playground supervision policy to ensure appropriate supervision of children during, assembly, dismissal and breaks and in respect of specific areas such as toilets etc.
  • The school has in place a policy and clear procedures in respect of school outings
  • The school has a Health and Safety policy
  • The school adheres to the requirements of the Garda vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda vetting
  • The school has a code of conduct for school personnel (teaching and non-teaching staff)
  • The school complies with the agreed disciplinary procedures for teaching staff
  • The school has a Special Educational Needs policy
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures for the administration of medication to pupils
  • The school:
  • Has provided each member of school staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
  • Encourages board of management members to avail of relevant training
  • Maintains records of all staff and board member training
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures for the administration of First Aid
  • The school has in place a code of behaviour for pupils
  • The school has in place an ICT policy in respect of usage of ICT by pupils
  • The school has in place a mobile phone policy in respect of usage of mobile phones by pupils
  • The school has in place a Critical Incident Management Plan
  • The school has in place a Home School Liaison policy and related procedures
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures for the use of external persons
  • to supplement delivery of the curriculum
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures for the use of external sports coaches
  • The school has in place a policy and clear procedures for one-to-one teaching activities
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures for one-to-one counselling
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of student teacher placements
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of students undertaking work experience in the school
  • The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of pupils of the school undertaking work experience in external organisations
  • The school has policy in place for one to one teaching which includes open doors or glass in the window

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 ____________________. It shall 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)

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