Child Protection & Garda Vetting
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We are committed to upholding the highest standards of child protection in our work as Forest School leaders. For your information, all Forest School leaders, assistants, helpers and volunteers (including parents) must be Garda vetted.
All Forest School leaders must have a Safeguarding Children child protection statement and Garda vetting policy in place as part of their risk assessment and governance procedures. The IFSA policy on Garda vetting for the IFSA can be accessed on our policies page. Information on drafting a child protection policy can be found at:
http://www.tusla.ie/services/child-protection-welfare/children-first.
Online child protection training can be sourced at this link:
http://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme
and is valid for three years.
Forest School leaders who cannot access Garda Vetting through other organisations, such as CREATE or Early Childhood Ireland or Volunteer Ireland or their school, for example) should contact us at gardavetting@irishforestschoolassociation.ie
Further information about Garda Vetting can be found through an Gardaí.
Read our Child Safeguarding Statement HERE.
Resources
An Taisce Green Schools
CRANN Trees for Ireland
Native Woodland Trust
Leave No Trace
LEAF Ireland
Field Studies Ireland
Heritage in Schools
Forest School Association (England)
Children and Natural Alliance of Canada
Outdoor & Woodland Learning in Scotland (OWL)
Nature Days
Lasmuigh – the professional practice journal for the Outdoor Sector on the Island of Ireland
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