• Child Safeguarding Statement Name of Service: The Music Academy, Ireland,

St. Laurence’s N.S. (Junior Building)
Grange Road,
Baldoyle D13,
Co. Dublin, D13 XE37.

Tel: 0852518416

Email: info@themusicacademy.ie

In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Director of The Music Academy Ireland has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out below.

The Music Academy is an educational institution providing music education to students from Junior level through to third-level.

1. The Music Academy has approximately 280 students that attend 1:1 lessons lasting 30 minutes each every week.

• Approximately 20 of these students are over 18 years of age.
• The Music Academy has 14 teachers that work across 5 days. The number of teachers on site at St. Laurence’s NS, Grange Road. at any one time ranges from 4-8.
• Once a year The Music Academy organises a school concert that is held on site at St. Laurence’s NS, Grange Rd.
•  
• 2. The Director recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of The Music Academy life and must be reflected in all of The Music Academy’s policies, procedures, practices and activities. Within these, The Music Academy will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:

• recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations;
• fully comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children;
• 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;
• and fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.

The Music Academy will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability and sets out a commitment that all children will be equally protected from harm regardless of race, ability, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

3. In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, the Director has carried out a risk assessment of any potential of harm to a child while attending The Music Academy or participating in The Music Academy’s activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and The Music Academy’s procedures for managing those risks has also been completed and is attached at Appendix 1.

4. The Director has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement.

The following procedures/measures are in place:

5.

(i) In relation to any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation (howsoever described) in respect of any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child attending The Music Academy, The Music Academy adheres to the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 7 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and to the relevant agreed disciplinary procedures for staff which are published on the DES website.  

(ii) In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children, The Music Academy adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and to the wider duty of care guidance set out in relevant Garda vetting and recruitment circulars published by the DES and available on the DES website.

(iii) In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training, to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) The Music Academy:

• has provided each member of staff with a copy of The Music Academy’s Child Safeguarding Statement;
• ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of The Music Academy’s Child Safeguarding Statement;
• encourages staff to avail of relevant training;

(iv) In relation to reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla, all personnel at The Music Academy are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017, including in the case of registered teachers, those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015. 

In The Music Academy:

(i) The Music Academy has a procedure for maintaining a list of mandated persons and a procedure for appointing a relevant person.

(ii) The Director has appointed the “relevant person” (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to be the first point of contact in respect of the Child Safeguarding Statement.

6. All teachers employed by The Music Academy are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015. This Statement and the associated risk assessment has been published on The Music Academy’s website and has been provided to all members of The Music Academy’s staff. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department if requested. All relevant documents, this statement and details of procedures in place to mitigate risks are readily available upon request. This statement is also on prominent display in the reception area of The Music Academy.

Appendix 1

Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirement of Chapter 8 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, the following is the Written Risk Assessment of the The Music Academy Ireland. 

As defined in the Children First Act, 2015, “harm” means, in relation to a child

(a)      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, or

(b)     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. This definition is understood as the harm caused to children by physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. In the context of safeguarding, it may also relate to the bullying of children, child trafficking and or sexual exploitation, or the harm caused to children through the misuse of digital technology or on internet platforms.

Implementation

 We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process.  Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.

 This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in October 2026 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed:       Philip Casey                          Date:       06/10/25

Director of The Music Academy Ireland

For queries please contact Philip Casey, relevant person under the Children First Act 2015

info@themusicacademy.ie Tel:  0852518416.

Designated Liaison Person

Philip Casey; Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015. 

Phone number: 0852518416

Email: info@themusicacademy.ie

Deputy Designated Liaison Person

Jonathan Parminter; Deputy Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015. 

Phone number: 0877610090

Email address:  jonparmintermusic@gmail.com

 This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted on 6th October 2025.