Child Protection

Children’s First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance 2017.

Children’s First Act, 2015 has placed certain statutory obligations on certain professionals, including all registered teachers, who are referred to as mandated persons in the Act. It has also placed certain statutory obligations on certain organisations that provide services to children, including all schools.

Children First National Guidelines 2017 outlines the new statutory obligations that apply to mandated persons such as registered teachers and the new statutory obligations that apply to organisations such as schools under the Act. It also sets out the best practice (non-statutory) obligations which are in place for all individuals.

A copy of the Document can be found by clicking on the image to the left.

Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017.

The new procedures give direction and guidance to schools authorities and to school personnel in relation to meeting their new statutory obligations under the Children First Act, 2015 and in the continued implementation of the best practice ( non-statutory) guidance set out in Children First National Guidance 2017.

The procedures include-

1. The reporting procedures to be followed by registered teachers in respect of their role as mandated persons, including a requirement to liaise with the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and, where applicable, to submit mandated reports jointly with the DLP to Tusla.
2. Guidance and direction for schools in relation to meeting their statutory obligations in relation to Child Safeguarding Statements. In that regard, the procedures require that all boards of management use the relevant templates published by the Department when preparing, publishing and reviewing their Child Safeguarding Statement.
3. Significantly enhanced oversight measures which are aimed at ensuring full compliance by schools with the Children First Act 2015, Children First National Guidance 2017 and with the Department’s requirements as set out in the procedures for schools. The new oversight measures are set out in Chapter 9 of the procedures and include oversight by the board of management of the school’s Child Safeguarding requirements and a new Child Protection Oversight Report which must be provided to the board of management, as part of the Principal’s report to the board, at every board of management meeting. While the reporting requirements in respect of the Child Protection Oversight Report may appear extensive, it should be noted that the requirement to provide the information specified in this report applies only where cases of a specific type (as set out in sections 9.5 to 9.8 inclusive of the procedures) arise in the school. Where any such case does arise, it is essential that the board of management is provided with the information necessary for it to have oversight of compliance with the relevant reporting requirements, particularly where the matter relates to a school employee.

Heywood Community School’s Child Safeguarding Statement & Risk Assessment

In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of Heywood Community School, at the monthly meeting of the 20th August 2024, has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in the document found by clicking on the link below.
This Statement was reviewed at the Annual Review of our Child Protection Policy on the 20th August 2024.

Designated Liaison Person
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As required the Board of Management have appointed the following 

Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Mr. Eamon Jackman.
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Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Mr. Peter Malone.

Annual review of Child Safeguarding Statement and Assessment of Risk

In accordance with the DES Child Protection Procedures the Board of Management carry out a scheduled Annual review of our risk assessment and Safeguarding Statement.The review is conducted in accordance with the Checklist for Review of the Child Safeguarding Statement which is published on the DES Website.

​Please click on the link below for confirmation of the recent review held on the 20th August 2024.