Stay Safe Policy

Introduction
This policy was devised in line with current recommendations and guidelines from the Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures (DES, 2017) and Children First (DCYA, 2017).
The Stay Safe Programme is a teaching package designed for use in Irish primary schools. It was researched and developed by the Child Abuse Prevention Programme. The principal aim of the programme is to reduce vulnerability to child abuse and bullying through the provision of a personal safety education programme.
Under Child Protection Guidelines, all schools are obliged to teach the Stay Safe programme. The revised Stay Safe Programme will be implemented in its totality in each class in the school.

Format
Stay Safe is taught as part of the SPHE (Social Personal and Health Education) curriculum and as per best practice recommendations, it will be taught in the second term of the year. A teacher may decide to revisit topics at other times during the year if the need arises. As outlined in the programme guidelines, individual adaptations or supports will be put in place for certain pupils with special educational needs.
Children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class participate in formal lessons from the Stay Safe Programme.

Collaboration
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to become involved by discussing each lesson with their child and helping their child to complete each worksheet based on the lessons in the programme.

Parents will be informed in advance of commencement of teaching the Stay Safe Programme. They are directed to www.pdst.ie/staysafe to see the content of the lessons and for any further information they might need.
Staff  and members of the Board of Management will be facilitated to attend CPD training on the revised Stay Safe programme.
This plan was ratified by the Board of Management at a meeting on 1st April 2019.
Signed: Patrick Meghen                                         Signed: Grace Burke
Chairperson of Board of Management               Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date:  01/04/2019                                                   Date:   01/04/2019