The Board of Management has adopted this significant document in relation to Child Protection:
Child Safeguarding Statement 2023
This documents is reviewed on an annual basis. The principle guiding this document, and the policy and practice of our school, is to ‘recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations’.
This manifests itself in two ways:
- Loreto Secondary School will endeavour implement the highest standards of care in relation to our students and these standards will be reflected in all school policies.
- Personnel at the school will follow procedures outlined in the Department of Education and Skills’ Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 in relation to all matters pertaining to child welfare.
Please note that all registered teachers (i.e. the teaching staff of this school) are mandated persons in accordance with the Children First Act 2015. This means that a teacher will be obliged to report any disclosure or concern she or he may have that a child may be exposed to one or more of the four forms of abuse:
- Neglect,
- Emotional abuse,
- Physical abuse,
- Sexual abuse.
Such referrals will be made to TUSLA (the Child and Family Agency). The school is also guided by the TUSLA publication, Children First. This document gives a full explanation of the forms of abuse listed above. It also outlines the responsibilities of organisations in relation to child protection and how concerns are to be dealt with.
Links to relevant documents are to be found below and in the documents section of each parent’s Compass portal.
Child Protection Procedures Dept. of Education 2023
Our Vetting Policy outlines our recruitment procedures (including those working on a voluntary basis) in the context of vetting requirements. Please click the link above to view the policy.
Our educational programmes contribute to child protection. In particular, our Relationships and Sexuality Education (R.S.E.), Social, Personal and Health Education (S.P.H.E.) and Wellbeing programmes equip our students with the knowledge, skills and information required to stay safe and healthy. Please read our R.S.E. policy by clicking the link below.
Relationships and Sexuality Education Policy 2019
Anti-Bullying Policy
In keeping with the school’s Mission statement which values respect and promotes the personal dignity of each individual, the Board of Management recognises that all students have the right to have a school free from bullying. In order to ensure this, the Board is fully committed to the continued development and implementation of its Anti-Bullying policy. Loreto Anti-Bullying Policy 2023 – click here
ICT Acceptable Use Policy
In order to safely manage the use of internet resources within the school, the Board of Management has adopted this policy: Click here for the ICT Acceptable Use Policy (part of ICT Plan) 2023