Introduction

This policy was devised in line with current recommendations and guidelines from the Children First (DCYA, 2017), Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures (DES, 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, devised from Children First legislation, 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 in Fourth and 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.

This plan was ratified by the Board of Management at a meeting on January 27 2020. It will be reviewed as necessary and is for general review in January 2024.