Guidelines on child safety to be mandatory [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 30 September 2011
A SAFETY programme to educate and protect students from abuse must be taught in all primary schools from today.
Despite being introduced almost 20 years ago, dozens of schools have refused to teach the Stay Safe programme.
However, from this morning all 3,300 primary schools will be obliged to do so under updated child protection guidelines.
Teachers and other school staff are already required to report suspicions of abuse, including neglect, to a designated liaison person (DLP) — usually the principal — who deals with health authorities, gardaí or others in relation to child abuse concerns. But now it will be a requirement in all primary and second-level schools that:
*The name of the DLP must be displayed prominently near the main entrance.
*As well as informing the board where a report involving a student has been made to the HSE, the DLP must now also tell them when advice was sought from the HSE but no report made; the principal must report the number of all such cases to every board meeting.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
