The use of mandatory template 1 for child safeguarding statement
- Published: 18 November 2021
The following changes have been made to the mandatory template that schools must use for their child safeguarding statement:
- Heretofore there were two separate templates one for risk assessment and one for child safeguarding statement (mandatory template 1 and mandatory template 2).
These have now been combined into one template which includes both the child safeguarding statement and the risk assessment (mandatory template 1) - The English language template is available in landscape and portrait versions here
- Tá an leagan Gaeilge anseo
- The child safeguarding statement must be signed and dated once it is adopted by the board and then each year to indicate that the review has taken place
- The requirement to sign it annually applies even if the school has made no change to the statement including the risk assessment arising from the review
- These changes were announced in April 2021 and came into effect for schools when their next annual review was due. Therefore if a school completed its annual review on March 1st 2021, they can continue to use the existing templates for child safeguarding statement and risk assessment until March 1st 2022 at the latest.
Following recent engagement with our education partners, Parents and Learners Unit have decided to provide a further lead in period between now and 31st January 2022 for schools to use the new mandatory template. From 31st January 2022 schools will be required to use the new mandatory template from the date of their next annual review.
The Inspectorate has been informed of PLU’s decision to provide a further lead in period. These means that a school will be found compliant with the following check ‘the Child Safeguarding Statement has been ratified by the board and includes an annual review and a risk assessment’ If the child safeguarding statement has been reviewed by the board but is on the old mandatory template.
Schools that reviewed their child safeguarding statement and continued to use the old mandatory template will be expected to use the new mandatory template 1 from the date of their next annual review.
Parents’ Association Clinics
- Published: 18 November 2021
National Parents Council – Primary (NPC) are holding two Parents Association clinics (virtually) on Monday, 22 November at 7.30pm and on Friday, 26 November at 10.00am.
Some of the topics that will be addressed at the clinics include:
- How a Parents’ Association should operate
- How to work with the Board of Management
- How to best represent all the parents of children in the school
- How to get more parents involved
There will be a short presentation followed by the opportunity to ask questions and to share your experience of what your Parents’ Association is doing.
NPC - Parents’ Association Clinics
- Published: 18 November 2021
National Parents Council – Primary (NPC) are holding a Parents Association clinic (virtually) on Friday, 26 November at 10.00am.
Some of the topics that will be addressed at the clinics include:
- How a Parents’ Association should operate
- How to work with the Board of Management
- How to best represent all the parents of children in the school
- How to get more parents involved
There will be a short presentation followed by the opportunity to ask questions and to share your experience of what your Parents’ Association is doing.
Inspection & Advisory Work in Autumn Term 2021
- Published: 18 November 2021
From the Chief Inspector’s address to the IPPN Deputy Principals’ Conference on Thursday 11 November:
For the autumn term, three themes are important in our work.
Supporting school leaders to provide safely for teaching and learning
Firstly, we are continuing with a programme of Sustaining the Safe Provision of Schooling Inspections (SSPS) during this school year. The focus of these visits is on supporting school leaders to provide safely for teaching and learning. I’d like to emphasise the very positive findings arising from the hundreds of these visits that we have conducted since September of 2020. We found around 98% of primary schools fully compliant. That is a great tribute to the work of school leaders and school communities.
The SSPS visits also provide an opportunity for inspectors to engage in professional dialogue with school leaders – something greatly welcomed by school leaders and inspectors.
Anti-bullying
Secondly, during our incidental inspections this autumn, we are putting a focus on supporting school leaders in creating inclusive learning environments for all. I know well that school leaders are very much aware of the importance of children learning in an environment where they feel welcome, valued and respected for who they are. All of us have heard the heart-breaking stories of some children who are marginalised or excluded – and often these come from vulnerable cohorts – LGBTQ, Travellers, children with special educational needs. None of us want this for any child.
So, during our incidental visits, we are collecting information on the implementation of anti-bullying guidelines but our focus is fundamentally about raising the consciousness of school leaders and schools about the importance of school culture and climate and having appropriate systems in place to prevent and tackle bullying. We know that dealing with bullying is not primarily about compliance with policies or checklists. While policies and systems have an important role to play, our overall approach is aimed at supporting school leaders to think about and promote a positive culture for all.
Vulnerable learners
Thirdly, as I have mentioned, the impact of Covid has been particularly stark for some children in our schools – including children with SEN and children who may struggle to engage with their learning in classrooms for a variety of reasons. With that in mind, we will be conducting a limited number of SEN inspections to see how children with SEN are getting on in their learning. We will also be looking at the issue of reduced timetables to ensure that they are only used in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the relevant procedures.
New Updates: Covid Ar Scoil
- Published: 18 November 2021
Antigen Testing
Minister for Education & Minister for Public health have confirmed today that arrangements for a new system of antigen testing of asymptomatic close contacts in primary schools will be put in place by the HSE on or before 29 November. The DE has confirmed that the principal is permitted to inform parents of children in the pod of a confirmed case.
Close Contacts and Movement Restriction
The Minister has confirmed that there is no derogation from the obligation for close contacts who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms to restrict their movements until they have three negative Antigen Tests within five days.
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