Child Safeguarding Statement
Real Learning Ltd. designs and delivers Learning & Development interventions (e.g. workshops, lectures, seminars, etc. focusing on personal/professional skills) for academic and corporate clients. Where those interventions involve children as participants, we are committed to a child-led approach to our work with children and young people. We undertake to provide a safe environment and experience where the welfare of the child and young person is paramount.
Policies and Procedures
We will adhere to the recommendations of Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published by the Department of Health and Children(2017)and the Child First Act (2015) in line with Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.
Our policy declaration applies to all company directors, paid staff, facilitators within our organisation. All of the above must sign up to and abide by the policies, procedures and guidance encompassed by this statement declaration and our child safeguarding policy and accompanying procedures. We want Real Learning Ltd. to be a safe, inviting, open, inclusive, professional environment for everyone.
Review
We will review our child safeguarding statement and accompanying child safeguarding policies and procedures every year or sooner if necessary, due to service issues or changes in legislation or national policy.
We believe that the welfare of all children and young people is paramount. All children and have the equal right to protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity and everyone has a responsibility for safeguarding
children.
This policy applies to all children and young people who engage with Real Learning Ltd. as participants in our workshops.
Risk Assessment in accordance with the Children First Act 2015.
Real Learning’s Board of Directors has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the service or participating in service activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the service procedures for managing those risks is summarised below:
| No | Risk identified | Procedure in place to manage identified risk |
| 1 | Risk of harm not noted by Real Learning personnel: company directors, workshop facilitators. | Introduce all directors/contractors to Real Learning’s Child Safeguarding Policy; roles, reporting procedures and codes of behaviour. Provision of child safeguarding training provided by Real Learning as part of induction. |
| 2 | Risk of harm not being reported properly or in good time by company directors or facilitators. | Company directors and facilitators are aware of the role of the Mandated Person (Company Secretary), and receive training in child safeguarding concerns and levels of concern for reporting. |
| 3 | Risk of young person being harmed by Real Learning directors or contractors. | Safe recruitment procedures involves: Taking all reasonable steps to eliminate people who are not suitable for working with children; and insisting all contractors are Garda vetted. Provide training on our child safeguarding policy. All directors and contractors to read and sign our code of behaviour policy for adults. Children and young people never to be left alone with an adult, two adult policy in place when working with children. |
| 4 | Risk of harm due to bullying of a young person. | Our policy outlines what constitutes bullying and harassment, who to make a complaint to and what action the company will take in dealing with an offence of this nature. |
| 5 | Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of young people. | Always having two adults present during events. 12+ children will be supervised by an increased ratio of adults. Parents/guardians must always drop/collect their children inside the venue. |
| 6 | Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship/ communications between adults and a young person. | Adults will never be alone with a child either in the building or to give a lift to a child in a car. |
| 7 | Risk of harm caused by contractors communicating with young people in an inappropriate manner via social media, texting, digital device or other manner. | Adults will never communicate on a 1-1 basis with a child either by text, email or social media. |
| 8 | Risk of harm due to inappropriate use of images of young people. | Images of any child or young person participating in activities involving Real Learning will not be used for any reason without the consent of the parent/caregiver. |
| 9 | Risk of harm due to inappropriate use of young people’s personal data. | No data is disclosed to any third party and remains confidential. |
Implementation
We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the accompanying child safeguarding policies and procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.
This statement has been provided to all company directors and contractors who engage with children. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla if requested.
Signed:
Date: 28/03/2025
