All schools need to have policies and procedures to help them guide the actions of all individuals involved in the school community. They ensure and endorse the well-being of all pupils, their families, staff, volunteers and everyone who is connected to the school. When policies and procedures are well thought out and, most importantly, implemented they provide common understanding and agreement on how things should be done and provide clear instructions and guidelines on what should/must be done in a particular set of circumstances or with regard to a particular issue.
Policies and procedures help new staff and parents to familiarise themselves with the school’s practices and gives them information about what to expect from the school. Policies should be ‘living’ documents that must be regularly reviewed to ensure that they meet all the needs of those working in the school, and take into account the possible changes that have happened in the school and within the wider community.
To summarise good, well thought out and implemented policies and procedures ensure:
- Good practice.
- Helps to establish a professional and effective organisation.
- They provide consistency among staff, parents and children.
- They can prevent any ambiguity about how particular situations/issues should be handled in the school.
- They promote harmony within the school community.
- More efficient and effective delivery of education and service.
All school policies are formulated by the Principal, Deputy Principal and the staff, in consultation with parents, and then ratified by the Board of Management in consultation with DES (Department of Education ans Skills), INTO (Irish National Teachers Association) and NEWB (National Education Welfare Board) guidelines.
These policies are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary and we very much welcome any comments and suggestions from parents.
Please email any comments or suggestions to admin@stfrancisns.ie.
Click on the Policy Links Below to View
01. Admissions and Enrolment Policy
02. Notification of BoM review of Safeguarding Statement
2A. Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment
2B. Intimate Care and Toileting Policy
04. Administration of Medicines Policy
07. Fire Drill and Evacuation Policy
10. Accident and Emergencies Policy
13. ICT & Social Media Acceptable Usage Policy
14. Mobile Phone & Electronic Devices Policy
15. Equality, Access and Participation Policy
16. Special Educational Needs (SEN) Policy
18. Parental Involvement Policy
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has recently published four short guides for parents on children’s data protection rights under the GDPR. These guides are intended to help parents to understand their children’s rights and to answer questions that can arise in typical situations where those rights apply. The link is here.
22. Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Policy
25. Hire and Use of School Premises Policy
27. Parent Staff Communication Policy and Grievance Procedures
28. Protected Disclosures Policy
30. Use of Outside Specialists Policy
31. Exemption from Irish Policy
32. Book Bills and Rental Scheme
34. One to One Teaching and Counselling Policy