Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
1080 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is the policy of his Department’s inspectorate to examine child protection policies and related files or to accept the assurances that a school has child protection policies in place during a whole school evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1420/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for ensuring that child protection requirements are complied with rests with the school board, the principal and the staff of each school. The Inspectorate of my Department undertakes whole-school evaluations in line with its quality assurance remit set out in Section 13 of the Education Act 1998. The WSE process involves evaluating schools under the areas of management, planning, curriculum provision, teaching and learning and student support.
The evaluation procedures include a specific review of school policies in the area of child protection. This review involves checking that each school has formally adopted the child protection guidelines as recommended in Children First and in the child protection guidelines of the Department of Education and Science. Confirmation is sought from the school authorities that the child protection procedures have been brought to the attention of management, school staff and parents and that a copy of the procedures has been provided to all staff (including all new staff). The procedures also involve checking that a Designated Liaison Person (DLP) has been nominated by the school.
The review of a school's child protection policies does not rely solely on the formal confirmation provided by the school authorities. Where necessary inspectors examine the minutes of board meetings, the recorded details of the adoption of the school's child protection policy and official school documentation naming the Designated Liaison Person (DLP). Inspectors may also follow up on any issues with members of school management and staff.
Following the checks made by the inspectors in relation to child protection the relevant findings are included in the WSE inspection report which is provided to the school's board of management and published on the Department's website. In addition, the Inspectorate reports its findings to the Schools Division of the Department for follow-up where necessary.
