Safety, Health and Welfare at Work: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act became operative on 1 November 1989. It is an important piece of legislation for BOMs and for those who work in schools, as schools and colleges were brought under the scope of safety legislation for the first time. It is recognised that school staff may be at risk from violence in the form of verbal abuse, threats, assaults or other forms of intimidation. This behaviour may come from pupils, parents, guardians, other staff members or intruders. In this respect, all should be aware of DES Circular 40/97 which deals with the procedures to follow if they feel they have been subjected to any of the above behaviours. School Complaints Procedure In School Procedures: Complaints are infrequent but the school would wish that these would be dealt with informally, fairly and quickly. The following is the agreed complaints procedure to be followed in primary schools. Only those complaints about teachers which are written and signed by parents/guardians of pupils may be investigated formally by the Board of Management, except where those complaints are deemed by the Board to be: On matters of professional competence and which are to be referred to the Department of Education. Frivolous or vexations complaints and complaints which do not impinge on the work of a teacher in a school. Complaints in either party has recourse to law or to another existing procedure. Unwritten complaints not in the above categories may be processed informally as set out in Stage 1 of this procedure. Stage 1 The parent/guardian meets with the class teacher on appointment with a view to solving the complaint. Parents should not contact teachers at home or incidentally outside of school. If the issue is not resolved the class teacher informs the Principal of the nature of the complaint. At this point, the principal, class teacher and parent/guardian may convene to discuss the matters arising at a suitable time to suit all parties.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act became operative on 1 November 1989. It is an important piece of legislation for BOMs and for those who work in schools, as schools and colleges were brought under the scope of safety legislation for the first time. It is recognised that school staff may be at risk from violence in the form of verbal abuse, threats, assaults or other forms of intimidation. This behaviour may come from pupils, parents, guardians, other staff members or intruders. In this respect, all should be aware of DES Circular 40/97 which deals with the procedures to follow if they feel they have been subjected to any of the above behaviours. School Complaints Procedure In School Procedures: Complaints are infrequent but the school would wish that these would be dealt with informally, fairly and quickly. The following is the agreed complaints procedure to be followed in primary schools. Only those complaints about teachers which are written and signed by parents/guardians of pupils may be investigated formally by the Board of Management, except where those complaints are deemed by the Board to be: On matters of professional competence and which are to be referred to the Department of Education. Frivolous or vexations complaints and complaints which do not impinge on the work of a teacher in a school. Complaints in either party has recourse to law or to another existing procedure. Unwritten complaints not in the above categories may be processed informally as set out in Stage 1 of this procedure. Stage 1 The parent/guardian meets with the class teacher on appointment with a view to solving the complaint. Parents should not contact teachers at home or incidentally outside of school. If the issue is not resolved the class teacher informs the Principal of the nature of the complaint. At this point, the principal, class teacher and parent/guardian may convene to discuss the matters arising at a suitable time to suit all parties.