SAFEGUARDING

CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

This statement has been prepared to comply with the requirements of the Children First Act, 2015. Cat’s Academy of Speech and Drama provides classes in Speech and Drama, theatre and performance.

COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN FROM HARM
Our Service is committed to safeguarding the children in our care and to providing a safe environment in which they can play, learn and develop.
• Our service is committed to safeguarding the children in our care and providing a safe environment in which they can play, learn and develop.
• Our service believes that the welfare of the children attending our service is paramount. We are committed to the child centred practice in all our work with children.
• We are committed to upholding the rights of every child and young person who attends our classes, including the rights to be kept safe and protected from harm, listened to, and be heard.
• Our policy and procedures to safeguard children and young people reflect national policy and legislation and are underpinned by Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Tusla Children First-Child Safeguarding Guide 2017, and the Children First Act 2015.
• Our policy declaration applies to all paid staff, volunteers, members and students on work placement, within our Academy. All staff, volunteers and students must sign up to and abide by the policies, procedures and guidance encompassed by this policy and accompanying procedures.
• We will review our child safeguarding statement and accompanying child safeguarding policies and procedures every 2 years, or sooner if necessary, due to service issues and changes in legislation or national policy.

DESIGNATED LIASION PERSONS
Designated Liaison Person (DLP): Catherine Martin
PH: 089 435 5150
Email: catsacademy@yahoo.com

RISK ASSESSMENT
In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, we have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the service or participating in activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and service procedures for managing those risk is summarised below:
We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our services. Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.

RISK IDENTIFIED

PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO MANAGE IDENTIFIED RISK

Dropping off and handover of children to responsible adult at collection time

• All Children must be signed into building.
• Names and contact numbers of adults who have permission to collect each child must be provided by parents/ guardians.
• The Parent/ guardian may give written or verbal permission to collect their child.
• If an unknown adult comes to collect a child (e.g. a family friend, an uncle/aunt, a cousin, etc.) and the school has not been informed in advance by parent/guardians, the class teacher calls the parent/guardians or person on students contact list to confirm student has permission to go with the adult.
• Children are lined up in the school and handed over to parent/ guardians one by one.
• Children can walk home from school only if their Parent/guardians have given permission. This is not allowed for our Junior Students.

Children presenting with social, emotional, behavioural or medical needs in school.

• Concerns relating to social, emotional, behavioural or medical needs are communicated to parent/guardians by phone, at collection time or through formal meetings. • Significant concerns should be addressed with the DLP

Accidents and injuries on site

Accidents and injuries that occur on the premises shall be managed in accordance with the Accident and Injury Policy.

Data protection

• Documents are shared with staff on a need to know basis
• Confidential documents relating to children in the Academy are stored securely

Withdrawal of children from class

• Children will be taken to a room with glass panels installed in the doors or if this is not possible the door will remain open.
• Children who need assistance with using the bathroom during the class will be accompanied/ assisted by two adults or if only one adult is available the outside door (not the cubicle door) will remain open so as to ensure the adult can be seen.
• Adults are not permitted to go to a toilet with a child alone with the door closed.

School events held outside the Academy

A risk assessment will be completed before each school tour or trip.

School based bullying, verbal, physical or psychological

• Promotion of a culture of openness and respect in which students can approach staff to discuss concerns and worries.
• Adequate supervision is provided to ensure codes are being followed.

Interaction with visitors to the Academy

• Visitors are accompanied by a staff member at all times during their visit. • Children are closely supervised by staff members during all school events in which visitors are invited into the school. • Regular visitors to the Academy e.g. external teachers, examiners are Garda vetted or a copy of Garda vetting provided to the Academy. These persons will not need to be accompanied at all times.

Storage or publication of photos of children

• Written parental/guardian permission to take photos of children is obtained by the Academy when the student commences classes. • Class teachers are made aware of any children in his or her class who do not have permission to be in school photos. • Photos taken by staff are removed from personal devices when it has been used.

PROCEDURES
Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of classes.

  • Procedure for management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service
  • Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children.
  • Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
  • Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla.
  • Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons.
  • Procedure for appointing a relevant person.

 IMPLEMENTATION
We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while in our care.

 This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on 20 May 2024.

Catherine Martin
PH: 089 4355 150