Ceol na Mara Music and Performing Arts Academy is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for its Students and Staff. The Child Protection Policy is available to parents and staff on our website and when registering for classes.

Garda vetting is an essential part of our recruitment process. All of our teachers, assistants and show helpers have Garda vetting to work with children and young adults. Ceol na Mara Music and Performing Arts Academy is committed to a child-
centred approach to our work with children and young people. We undertake to provide a safe environment and experience, where respect for, and the welfare of, the child/young person are paramount. We adhere to the “Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children” by having and implementing procedures covering:

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• Safe recruitment, training, and management/supervision of staff

• Code of behaviour for staff

• Incidents and accidents procedures

• Complaints

• Reporting of suspected or disclosed abuse

• Confidentiality

• Access, upon request, to information on these procedures to relevant parties

• Allegations of misconduct or abuse by staff

• Late collection from class (Students are always supervised. Parents are contacted in the event a parent is running late and a staff member waits with the child until they are collected)

Individual lessons are offered in piano, voice, ukulele, guitar, fiddle, concertina and Leaving Cert Music. Parents are welcome to attend trial individual classes and are regularly updated on progress. Group classes offered include group singing and musical theatre. Group classes are properly supervised with appropriate numbers of teachers/class assistants. All pupils are cared for and respected while in the care of Ceol na Mara Music and Performing Arts Academy. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure every pupil is safe in every class. We recognise that the protections and welfare of children attending our classes is of the utmost importance.

 

We fully comply with the obligations of the Children First Act and all other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children. We will fully co-operate with Tusla and An Garda Siochana in relation to child protection and welfare matters. We maintain safe practice to minimise the chance of harm or accidents happening and to protect employees from taking any risks that could leave them open to allegations of abuse or neglect. We encourage parents and guardians to come to us with any concerns and we will go to parents and guardians with any concerns we may have for their child if it is deemed safe to do so. WE fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with Child Protection matters.

 

We may on occasion take photographs and/or video for publicity of classes or shows, and may want to share them on social media with care and attention that you would expect and/or for record keeping or for casting purposes. Parental permission is sought in advance for all photos and videos used for promotional purposes.

Ceol na Mara Music and Performing Arts Academy is directed by Clíodhna Tuite who is a fully qualified and experienced Secondary School Music Teacher with a Masters in Special Education and Inclusion. She is accredited with The Teaching Council of Ireland. She is also the DLP. All other teachers are professionally trained and experienced. All teachers are regularly observed and take part in regular CPD to ensure the highest standards for our students. Our assistants are current third level teaching students and go through a training course with our trained teachers and specialists.

 

Ceol na Mara Music and Performing Arts Academy has full public liability and professional indemnity insurance with Optis Insurance in all our teaching locations, shows and summer camps. Our Child protection policies follow all
National and Best Practice Guidelines.

 

If any parent, carer, teacher, leader, or participant is uncomfortable with photos and/or video being used or requires more information about this or any aspect of our Child Protection Policy Statement, please speak with Clíodhna
Tuite or email: ceolnamaramusic@gmail.com