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 The Dublin Academy of Education (DAE), Dublin.

List  of  school Activities

Before School Starts (8.00am)

• Students are on campus (at lockers, recreational areas, toilets and canteen)

• Attending supervised activities (in clubs, or at extra classes)

During the Normal School Day (9:30am- 4:30pm)

Class captains are carrying out their duties

Students are attending one-to-one activities such as:

• Oral exams

• Tuition outside the timetabled curriculum

• Guidance/Year Head/Deputy Principal/Principal meetings or

• Receiving assistance from teachers

• Being interviewed by outsiders

Students are in supervised group activities such as:

• Attending class

• Receiving group tuition outside the timetabled curriculum

Students are in other activities such as:

• Having meals in the canteen

• Attending events with visiting speakers

• Taking part in LC Practicals, LC Orals or Mock Practicals

• Taking part in school events

• Attending Lunch Clubs

• Doing Mock Interviews with volunteers from outside

• Attending events during the day

• Attending events in other schools either as part of the curriculum or as part of an extra-curricular activity

After School (After 4:30pm), students are:

• Engaged in general unsupervised activities

• Engaged in supervised group activities

• Receiving assistance after school / additional classes

• Attending After School Study

• Engaged in Extra-Curricular clubs

• Involved in sports team training and matches

• Attending fundraising events

• In unsupervised activities waiting for their parents to collect them

• Involved in self-organised clubs, drama or sporting activity after school

Students are on trips off campus (same day return). These include (but are not limited to):

• Athletics Zones

• Art trips to city centre

• Bonding Days

• RDS BT Young Scientist Exhibition

• Year 6 Geographical Investigations

• Third Level Institutions

• Subject trips

• English Trips to plays

• Sports events

• Supporters trips

• Sports teams away matches on buses, taxis, lifts etc.

General Activities not covered above:

• The use of IT and Communication technology by students and staff

• The use of video, photography or other media to record class activities or school events

• Outside organisations use the school buildings and sports facilities

The school has identified the following areas of risk:

• Risk of child being harmed in the school by an employee of the school

• A visitor/volunteer in the school

• Another child

• A member of the public, trespasser or other user of school facilities

• A parent

• Contract staff

Risk of child being harmed while participating in out-of-school activities (trips, supporters, etc.) by:

• An employee of the school

• A member of staff of another organization

• Any other person (bus/taxi drivers/a member of the public )

• Other students (DAE and non-DAE)

• Parent volunteer

Risk of harm in one-to-one teaching/counselling/coaching situation and/or risk of harm due to:

• Bullying of a child

• Inadequate supervision in school

• Inadequate supervision of children while attending out of school activities

• Inappropriate relationship between child and another child/adult

• Inappropriate communication between child and another child/adult children inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones, and other devices while in school

Risk of harm caused by a school employee or volunteer communicating with pupils in an inappropriate manner via social media, texting, digital device or other manner accessing/circulating inappropriate material.

Risk of harm from contact between coaching staff and pupils taking sport

Increased risk of harm to pupils at quiet times of the day when there is less activity on the campus

Risk of harm to children with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities

Risk of harm not being properly and promptly reported by school personnel

Risk of harm not being recognised by school personnel

Risk of harm from a child’s own parent who visits the campus

The School has the following Procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this Assessment

• DAE promotes itself as a ‘telling’ school. Pupils are encouraged to talk and staff will listen to all child protection concerns.

• There is a Code of Conduct in place.

• There is an Anti-Bullying Policy in place which fully adheres to the requirements of the DES Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary schools.

• The school has a Student Welfare Policy

• The school will remind staff, at least annually, of these policies and of child protection obligations as detailed in  Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools, 2017. The school will always endeavour to ensure that employees understand these obligations.

• All teaching staff are mandated persons and are obliged to fully adhere to Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools, 2017. The Dublin Academy of Education of the College will implement these procedures in full.

• The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools,  2017 will be available to all staff, parents and the wide community on the DAE website.

• This Child Safeguarding Statement will be available to all school personnel, will be publically available on the DAE website and will be available at the main entrance to the school.

• As a result of adherence to the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools, 2017, the DAE adheres to the requirements of Garda Vetting and relevant DES circulars in relation to recruitment and Garda Vetting.

• All employees of the school are required to complete the Tusla on-line Child Protection eLearning Module, and all other training as deemed appropriate by the Board of Management of the school.

• All employees newly taken on by the school will be obliged to sign up to and implement the DAE Child Safeguarding Statement.

• DAE teachers are required to adhere to the standards and Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers as published by the Teaching Council. In particular, it is noted that communication with pupils will be ‘in a manner that is professional’.

• The school has a Code of Practice for Teachers

• The DAE has an ICT and Acceptable Use Policy for users of IT in the College which is published on the College website.

• Teaching staff members are briefed on supervision requirements of the campus and are supplied with guidelines on supervision.

• CCTV cameras in public areas of the campus, with viewing access strictly limited to DAE personnel when necessary.

• DAE has in place a Critical Incident Management Plan.

• All visitors are required to call to reception.

• Visitors are required to wear a Visitor Badge or will be accompanied on the campus.

• The school ICT network is filtered and monitored.

In undertaking this risk assessment, The Dublin Academy of Education has endeavoured to identify as far as possible the risks of harm that are relevant to the DAE 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 DAE has in place the procedures listed in this risk assessment to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent.

It shall be reviewed as part of the DAE’s annual review of its Child Safeguarding Statement.