Privacy, Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy

Maths Masters
Pine Lodge,
Main Street,
Co. Kilkenny
X91 WNE2

Under section 10 of the Children First Act, 2015 Maths Masters has a statutory obligation to ensure, as far as practicable, that children are safe from harm while they are attending courses provide by the organisation. Maths Masters recognises it’s duty of care to students and will always be cognisant of the need for prudent practice from a child protection perspective. Maths Masters provides online and face to face revision courses to secondary students preparing for State exams and/or aptitude tests. 

The following child protection policy has been developed. 

The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is          John Winters

In its policies, practices and activities Maths Masters will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare. Maths Masters recognises that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations:

•          Fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters
•          Adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may    leave themselves open to accusations of abuse or neglect
•          Develop a practice of openness with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children
•          Fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters
•          Maths Masters will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.

Mandated Persons

The Children First Act, 2015 has placed a statutory obligation on specific people to report child protection concerns that are at or above a threshold of harm (as defined in that Act) to Tusla. Such persons are referred to as “mandated persons” under the Act. All teachers are mandated persons under the Children First Act, 2015.

In accordance with section 2 of the Children First Act, 2015 the defined threshold of “harm” in relation to a child is as follows: “harm” means, in relation to a child

• assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare
• sexual abuse of the child, whether caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances, or otherwise;”

In accordance with section 2 of the Children First Act, 2015 please note the following:
• “ill-treatment” means, in relation to a child, to abandon or cruelly treat the child, or to cause or procure or allow the child to be abandoned or cruelly treated
• “neglect” means, in relation to a child, to deprive the child of adequate food, warmth, clothing, hygiene, supervision, safety or medical care;
• “welfare” includes, in relation to a child, the moral, intellectual, physical, emotional and social welfare of the child.”

Criteria for Mandated Reporting: Threshold of Harm

Under the Children First Act, 2015 teachers, as mandated persons, are required to report to Tusla any knowledge, belief or reasonable grounds to suspect that a child has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed. The Act defines harm as assault, ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse, and covers single and multiple instances.

Neglect

Neglect is defined as “to deprive the child of adequate food, warmth, clothing, hygiene, supervision, safety or medical care”. The threshold of harm, at which a registered teacher as a mandated person has a statutory obligation to report to Tusla under the Children First Act, 2015 is reached when he or she knows, believes or has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child’s needs have been neglected, are being neglected, or are at risk of being neglected to the point where the child’s health, development or welfare have been or are being seriously affected, or are likely to be seriously affected.

Emotional Abuse/Ill-Treatment

Ill-treatment is defined as: “to abandon or cruelly treat the child, or to cause or procure or allow the child to be abandoned or cruelly treated”. Emotional abuse is covered in the definition of ill-treatment used in the Children First Act, 2015. The threshold of harm, at which a registered teacher as a mandated person has a statutory obligation to report to Tusla under the Children First Act, 2015 is reached when he or she knows, believes or has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child has been, is being or is at risk of being ill-treated to the point where the child’s health, development or welfare have been or are being seriously affected, or are likely to be seriously affected.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is covered in the references to assault in the Children First Act, 2015. The threshold of harm, at which a registered teacher as a mandated person has a statutory obligation to report to Tusla under the Children First Act, 2015 is reached when he or she knows, believes or has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child has been, is being or is at risk of being assaulted and that as a result the child’s health, development or welfare have been or are being seriously affected, or are likely to be seriously affected.

Sexual Abuse

A teacher as a mandated person who knows, believes or has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child has been, is being, or is at risk of being sexually abused has a statutory obligation to report this to Tusla under the Children First Act, 2015. Sexual abuse to be reported under the Children First Act, 2015 [as amended by section 55 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017] is defined as an offence against the child, as listed in Schedule 3 of the Children First Act, 2015.

Dealing with Disclosures from Children

An abused child is likely to be under severe emotional stress. Great care shall be taken not to damage that trust.

When information is offered in confidence, personnel will need tact and sensitivity in responding to the disclosure. They will need to reassure the child, and endeavour to retain his or her trust, while explaining the need for action which will necessarily involve other adults being informed. It is important to tell the child that everything possible will be done to protect and support him or her, but not to make promises that cannot be kept e.g. promising not to tell anyone else. Allegations of abuse or neglect are dealt with in a sensitive, competent and professional way through listening to and facilitating the child to tell about the problem.

Confidentiality, Sharing of Information and the Offence of Unauthorised Disclosure

Tusla has the authority to share information concerning a child, who is the subject of a risk assessment with a mandated person who has been asked to provide assistance.

Information that Tusla shares with a teacher, including a DLP, where that teacher is assisting Tusla to carry out an assessment, must not be shared by the teacher with a third party, unless Tusla considers it appropriate and authorises in writing that the information may be shared. This is in keeping with the principles of data protection which recognise that in certain circumstances information can be shared in the interests of child protection, but that such sharing must be necessary and proportionate.

Section 17 of the Children First Act, 2015 makes it an offence for a person to disclose information to a third party which has been shared by Tusla during the course of an assessment arising from a mandated report, save in accordance with law, or unless Tusla has given that person written authorisation to do so. Failure to comply with this section of the Act is an offence liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to six months or both.

Child Protection Practices

The following identified have as areas of specific concern in relation to Child Protection. The following practices should be adopted:

 Accidents

While every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of children, we realise that accidents will happen. Accidents will be noted in our Incident Log Book and will be addressed under our First Aid & Accident Procedures.  

Bullying

Maths Masters offers students the opportunity to learn safely in an online environment. If any bullying involved is of a sexualised nature or regarded as being particularly abusive, then the matter will be referred to the DLP. 

Communication

Every effort will be made to enhance communication. If pupils have concerns they will be listened to sympathetically. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment with Maths Masters if they wish to discuss their child’s progress.

Record Keeping

Every educational organisation keeps records covering a number of matters, about students who have been admitted to a course. Maths Masters makes every effort to adhere to the following principals:

·      Information is processed  lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner

·      Information is collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes

·      Information collected is adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the purpose it is processed

·      Information is kept accurate and inaccurate data is rectified without delay;

·      Information is kept secure

Maths Masters has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities:

·      Bullying behaviour in an online environment or at any course provided by Maths Masters.

·      Inappropriate comments or misuse of “Chat Area” during online classes.

Maths Masters has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment:

·      Clear Policies and Procedures in the following areas:

1.     Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines

2.     Code of Behaviour in online classes.

3.     Anti-Bullying Policy 

·      Child Protection Training

In undertaking this risk assessment, Maths Masters has endeavoured to identify as far as possible the risks of harm that are relevant to this organisation 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 school has in place the procedures listed in this risk assessment to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent.

Child Protection Contacts

·      Designated Liaison Person:     John Winters

·      Mooncoin Garda Station:       (051)895122

Tusla:

Child and Family Agency, Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary, Community Services, James Green, Kilkenny           (056) 7784642

Date:               1st September 2024

Review date:  1st September 2025

Code of Behaviour in Online Classes 

& Anti-Bullying Policy

Maths Masters

Maths Masters offers online revision courses preparing secondary level students for state examination. This is the primary activity of the organisation and classes are offered primarily using platforms such as Zoom and/or Youtube. Maths Masters understands that student welfare and the welfare of teachers presenting courses is of paramount importance at all times. The purpose of this code of behaviour is to ensure that all members of the community involved in courses, provided by Maths Masters, are aware of appropriate behavioural expectations at such events.

This policy, therefore, seeks to ensure that remote learning is safe for all student learners under Child Protection Policy and that their data is also protected under GDPR legislation. 

This Policy is prepared, therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the

Department of Education and relevant sections of: 

(a) The Education Act (1998)
(b) Education (Welfare) Act (2000)
(c) Equal Status Act (2000) 
(d) Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004)
(e) Disability Act (2005) 
(f) Children First 2017 
(g) GDPR 

Teaching and Learning is always evolving, especially, as we move deeper into the 21st century. Developments in IT provide us all with great opportunities as learners and teachers. Never before has there been greater scope to learn using technology and it continues to change the learning relationship between teachers and students. Advances in technology mean that assignments can be delivered remotely and that greater access to information on the internet affords the opportunities for real learning to take place under the watchful and professional guidance of the teacher. However, whether a child is being directed remotely or via a traditional classroom environment, it is very important that all partners are aware that once a learning exchange takes place between a student and teacher, whether at home or school, the same statutory rules apply.

Chat Area in Online Classes

Students communicate with the teacher using the chat area provided in the relevant meeting. This chat area affords students the opportunity to ask the teacher questions relating to the topic under discussion. The chat area is moderated by the teacher and/or by another member of staff (moderator) of Maths Masters where appropriate. The moderator’s function is to ensure the smooth running of the class and that students are afforded the opportunity to learning in a calm and safe environment. The teacher may act as moderator if it is appropriate for them to do so.

Students should recognise that

·      The online classes which take place are educational in nature and the “chat area” should be reserved for the topic under discussion during the class. 

·      Where students misuse the chat area the teacher/moderator may, delete the chat, or at their discretion, remove access to the chat area from that student. 

·      Persistent misuse of the chat area, by a student, may result in that student being removed from the course.

·      Should the teacher/moderator feel that comments from a student at a session/course are abusive to another student or to the teacher presenting the course, the student can be removed from the course. Such decisions are made at the discretion of the teacher/moderator of the class/course.

·      Any abusive behaviour which threatens the safety of another student or the teacher of a class may be reported to the Gardai/Tusla or both. The criteria for mandated Child Protection reporting remains the same as if the student was being taught in a conventional classroom. 

Images and Content

·      No screenshots may be taken during classes and no images of teachers or course content may be posted online or by any other means.

·      Maths Masters is the copyright holder for all content provided during courses. No course content may be distributed to any third party without the permission of the management of Maths Masters. Any notes provided at a course are for the sole use of students enrolled on the course.

Bullying

All members of our community are valued equally. Bullying, in any of its forms, is unacceptable.

By registering for a course with Maths Masters, students and their parents/guardians are agreeing to abide by the Maths Masters code of behaviour.

Maths Masters strives to provide a warm and welcoming environment where students and academic staff work positively and harmoniously together. All students have the freedom to do their work, and study without having to suffer bullying or intimidation of any kind. Bullying will not be tolerated either in real-time or in any online environment. The organisations anti-bullying policy is rigorously enforced. This policy aims to eliminate all forms of bullying behaviour, to raise awareness of the effects of such behaviour on individuals and the learning environment and to promote a climate in which students feel free to raise complaints of bullying without fear of victimisation. 

The use of abusive language, threatening gestures or behaviours is strictly forbidden and infringement may lead to suspension or expulsion from courses depending on the seriousness of the breach.

·       The classroom/online classroom is a place of learning and questions from students of an academic nature are wholeheartedly encouraged. It is our goal to ensure that every student leaves the classroom with a clear understanding of the subject matter discussed during the class. Improper disruptions of any kind are therefore not permitted as they undermine our goals and adversely affect the learning environment.

·       Maths Masters reserves the right to refuse admission. 

Date:               1^st September 2024                

Review date:  1^st September 2025