| Activity | Risk Identified | Procedure in Place to manage the risk | ||||
| 1 | Daily arrival and dismissal of students. Late arrivals. | Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of students entering and leaving school. | The school communicates annually with parents/guardians/bus driver re arrival and dismissal of students. The school ensures appropriate supervision of students for dismissal of students within available resources. | |||
| 2 | Recreation breaks for students. | Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of students in school. | The school ensures appropriate supervision of students during breaks. | |||
| 3 | Classroom teaching. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel. | School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. | |||
| 4 | Outdoor teaching activities | Risk of student being harmed by a member of school personnel. Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of students in school. | School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. | |||
| 5 | One-to-one teaching. | Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching situation. | The school has in place procedures for one-to-one meetings with students. Refer to Health, Safety and Welfare Policy, Special Needs Policy | |||
| 6 | Counselling | one-to-one counselling situation. | The school has in place procedures for one-to-one meetings with students. | |||
| 7 | Sporting Activities | Risk of student being harmed by a member of school personnel. Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of students while attending out of school activities. | School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. | |||
| 8 | Homework Club | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel. | School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. | |||
| 9 | School outings | Risk of student being harmed by a member of school personnel, a member of staff of another organisation or other person while student participating in out of school activities. Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of students while attending out of school activities. | The school has in place a policy and clear procedures in respect of school outings. | |||
| 10 | Use of off-site facilities for school activities | Risk of student being harmed by a member of school personnel, a member of staff of another organisation or other person while student participating in out of school activities. Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of students while attending an off-site facility. | School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. | |||
| 11 | School transport arrangements. | Risk of student being harmed by a member of school personnel, a member of staff of another organisation or other person while student is travelling to/from school activity. | School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. Adequate supervision. Staff Member + 1Garda Vetted Person. 1:8 | |||
| 12 | Prevention and dealing with bullying amongst students. | Risk of harm due to bullying of students. | The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. | |||
| 13 | Management of challenging behaviour amongst students, including appropriate use of restraint where required. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel. Risk of student being harmed in the school by another student. | The school has in place a code of behaviour for students, Stay Safe Programme. | |||
| 14 | Application of sanctions under the school’s Code of Behaviour including detention of students. | Risk of harm due to lack of resources (personnel) | The school has in place a code of behaviour for students. | |||
| 15 | Care of student with special educational needs, including intimate care where needed. | Risk of harm to students with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities. Risk of harm to student while a student is receiving intimate care, | The school has a Special Educational Needs policy. The school does not have at present students enrolled who require intimate care. When this arises a policy/plan in respect of students who require such care will have to be drawn up. | |||
| 16 | Care of students with specific vulnerabilities/needs including: Students from ethnic minorities/ migrants. Members of the Traveller community.Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) students and students perceived to be LGBT.Students of minority religious faiths.Children in care.Children on CPNS. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel. Risk of student being harmed in the school by another student. | The school has an Anti-Bullying Policy which fully adheres to the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. | |||
| 17 | Administration of Medicine | The school has in place procedures for the administration of medication to students. | ||||
| 18 | Administration of First Aid | The school has in place procedures for the administration of First Aid | ||||
| 19 | Curricular provision in respect of SPHE, RSE. | The school implements in full the SPHE curriculum. The school has an RSE Policy. The school implements in full the weaving Wellbeing Programme. | ||||
| 20 | Participation by students in religious ceremonies/religious instruction external to the school. | The school provides supervision. | ||||
| 21 | Use of information and Communication Technology by students in school. | Risk of harm due to students inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones and other devices while at school. | The school has in place a mobile phone policy in respect of usage of mobile phones by students. The school has in place an ICT policy in respect of usage of ICT by students. | |||
| 22 | Students participating in work experience in the school. | The school has put in place procedures in respect of students undertaking work experience in the school. | ||||
| 23 | Recruitment of school personnel including – TeachersSNAsAdmin staffCaretakerCleaners (Berna) | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a member of school personnel who has not been Garda Vetted. | St. Cronan’s adheres to the requirements of the Garda vetting legislation and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda vetting. The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 are made available to all school personnel.All new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Student Safeguarding Statement.The school encourages staff to avail of relevant training. | |||
| 24 | Use of external personnel to supplement curriculum and/or support sports and other extra-curricular activities Sports coachesExternal Tutors/Guest SpeakersVolunteers/Parents in school activities. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school. | The school has in place a Visiting Speakers Policy for the use of external persons to supplement delivery of the curriculum. Parents/Guardians who volunteer are required to undergo Garda Vetting. Garda vetting carries out through Church of Ireland House (Ruth Burleigh / Andrea Bridge) | |||
| 25 | Fundraising events involving students. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by volunteer or visitor to the school. | The school has a policy in place. | |||
| 26 | Use of video/photograph/other media to record/at school events. | Under GDPR Policy. | ||||
| 27 | Use of student images for PR purposes. | Opt-in/out questions on the school enrolment form for parents/guardians to indicate preferences re student images. | ||||
| 28 | Student teachers undertaking training placement in school | The school has in place a policy and procedures in respect of student teacher placement. | ||||
| 29 | After school use of school premises by other organisations. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a visitor to the school. | The school has a document regarding terms and conditions of the use of the school and requires insurance and child protection details to be in place by the visiting organisation. | |||
| 31 | Non-curricular related visitors/contractors present in school during school hours. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a visitor/contractor to the school. | All visitors are directed to report to the Main Office The school has a Health, Safety and Welfare Policy. | |||
| 32 | Non-curricular related visitors/contractors present during after school activities. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a visitor/contractor to the school. | The school has a Health, Safety and Welfare Policy. | |||
| 33 | Other | Risk of harm not being recognised by 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 has provided each member of school staff with a copy of the school’s Student Safeguarding Statement. The school encourages staff to avail of relevant training. | |||
| 34 | Other | Risk of harm not being reported properly and promptly by 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 has provided each member of school staff with a copy of the school’s Student Safeguarding Statement. The school encourages staff to avail of relevant training. | |||
| 35 | Other | Risk of harm caused by member of school personnel communicating with students 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. | 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 has provided each member of school staff with a copy of the school’s Student Safeguarding Statement. School personnel are expected to adhere to the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct. The school complies with the agreed disciplinary procedures for teaching staff. | |||
| 36 | Christmas Spirit, Santa. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a visitor. | ||||
| 37 | Parents participating in school activities. | Risk of student being harmed in the school by a visitor. | ||||
- The school has in place a Critical Incident Policy and Plan.
- The school has in place procedures for the use of external persons to supplement delivery of the curriculum.
- The school has in place clear procedures for one-to-one teaching activities.
- The school has in place procedures in respect of students undertaking work experience in the school.
Important Note: it should be noted that risk in the context of this risk assessment is the risk “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.
The risk assessment has been completed by the Board of Management in May/ June 2018. It will be reviewed as part of the school’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.