Child protection procedures and child protection practice: Two sides of the same coin?

Given the centrality of the primary school in a child's life and appreciating that the pulse of any school is its children, child protection is fundamental to the operation and policy context within. In recent years in the Irish context, the full implementation of the Children First Act 2015 has resulted in mandatory reporting responsibilities for teachers registered with the Teaching Council and indeed statutory requirements for schools in relation to safeguarding. Of course, this has then resulted in updated Child Protection Procedures for Schools, last updated by the Department of Education and Youth in 2025. While the procedures are labour-intensive for schools and school management authorities in terms of oversight of child protection, this paper provides some insight into child protection practice in Irish primary schools. A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 21 primary school teachers was undertaken. The findings from the interviews undertaken highlight the diversity in practice in the school context in terms of child protection and the challenges that exist between procedural implementation and practical reality in the schoolhouse. Ongoing and developmental support for schools and teachers is critical to ensure the thrust of Children First is realised.