This is the first introduction that children will have to An Garda Síochána. The main aim of these visits is to introduce the children to Gardaí and begin to build relationship together.
- Pre-School – Introduction to a Garda – the Gardaí will introduce themselves to the children and provide them with some colouring pages/books.
- Junior Infants – Stay Safe – this teaches the children who safe strangers are should they need help.
- Senior Infants – Role of An Garda Síochána – this shows the different Jobs Gardaí do and how to call for help.
This is the first introduction that children will have to An Garda Síochána. The main aim of these visits is to introduce the children to Gardaí and begin to build relationship together.
- Pre-School – Introduction to a Garda – the Gardaí will introduce themselves to the children and provide them with some colouring pages/books.
- Junior Infants – Stay Safe – this teaches the children who safe strangers are should they need help.
- Senior Infants – Role of An Garda Síochána – this shows the different Jobs Gardaí do and how to call for help.
Now that the children are finished the early years programme and they are a bit older, Gardaí can go into more detail about what the role of the Garda is and talk about the different units within An Garda Síochána that assist in keeping people safe. As children get older there are more lessons tailored towards personal safety, Halloween safety, and how their behaviour affects others.
Here is a breakdown for the primary schools programme:
- 1st/2nd Class – Role of the Garda: This outlines in more detail the work of Gardaí
- 1st/2nd Class – Road Safety: High Glow Silver Seat Belt Sheriff (These lessons were prepared by the RSA and outline the importance of being seen and visible and wearing your seatbelt.)
- 1st/2nd Class – Personal Safety: This lesson teaches the children how to stay safe when out and about.
- 3rd /4th Class – Halloween Safety: This lesson teaches about the law on fireworks and how to stay safe at Halloween
- 3rd/4th Class – My Neighbours: This teaches us about being a good member of our community.
- 3rd/4th Class – Be Kind Online: Pupils will learn:
- What cyberbullying is
- How cyberbullying can hurt someone
- That cyberbullying is always wrong
- How their actions, inaction and responses to what others post online can contribute to cyberbullying, whether consciously or inadvertently
- What they could do to prevent cyberbullying happening to themselves and others
- 5th/6th Class – Investigating Crime: This lesson looks at what a crime is and how investigations take place.
- 5th/6th Class – Vandalism: This lesson examines what vandalism is and the laws surrounding it.
- 5th/6th Class – My Behaviour: This lesson examines how a young person’s behaviour impacts the community.
The Garda Secondary Schools Programme has been developed to align with the Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE) syllabus of the Department of Education & Science. Trained Gardaí are available to co-facilitate classes as part of the SPHE course at Junior Cycle level in the following modules:
1st – 3rd year – Personal Safety
At the end of this class students will have an understanding of:
- What is personal safety?
- Why is it important?
- How to keep yourself safe.
- Bicycle Safety.
- Mobile phone safety.
1st – 3rd year - Internet Safety
At the end of this class students will have an understanding of:
- Connect with Respect - Students will be able to recognise what online harassment and cyberbullying looks like and understand that it is not acceptable. Students will explore the impact of cyberbullying and online harassment on young people. They will be able to identify ways of responding effectively if they are affected by online harassment and cyberbullying.
- Be in CTRL - The Be in Ctrl resource focuses on the online sexual coercion and extortion of young people by adults but this behaviour can also exist in a peers’ environment.
1st – 3rd year - Substance Misuse
At the end of this class students will have an understanding of:
- What is Alcohol? How does it work?
- Consequences of Alcohol
- What is Cannabis?
- Effects of Cannabis
- Penalties for Cannabis Use
- Legislation
1st – 3rd year - Human Rights, Equality and Diversity
At the end of this class students will have an understanding of:
- The role of An Garda Síochána in the protection of Human Rights
- Equality
- Discrimination
- Racism
- Hate Crime
- Diversity
1st – 3rd year - Cocos Law
At the end of this class students will have an understanding of:
- Appropriate actions to take if they encounter harmful online content, such as receiving an intimate image, including reporting, seeking help, and understanding their rights. reflect on the importance of respecting others’ privacy and boundaries online, understanding the impact of their actions, and taking responsibility for creating a safe and positive digital environment.
4th – 6th Year – Substance Misuse
At the end of this class you will have an understanding of:
- What is substance misuse?
- What is a controlled drug?
- Legislation
- Stop and Search
- Signs and Symptoms of drug use/abuse
4th – 6th Year – Consequences of criminal behaviour
At the end of this class you will have an understanding of:
- Thinking before you act. This lesson focuses on assaults and one punch attacks.
Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), as part of the school’s curriculum, supports the personal development, health and wellbeing of young people and helps them create and maintain supportive relationships.
An Garda Síochána are adding relevant information to the content covered by the teachers and explaining the legislation in a way the young people can understand.
Help 4 you
Help4U is a digital platform developed by Europol and CENTRIC to support children and teenagers who may be experiencing online sexual abuse or other online harm. The platform is designed to be simple, private and accessible, and provides young people with clear information on where to get help, how to understand their rights and how to access appropriate support. The platform may be of assistance where a young person is being made to feel uncomfortable online, is being asked to send images, is being blackmailed or harassed, is subject to sexual extortion, manipulation or catfishing, or where sexual images have been shared without consent.
Help4U is aimed at young people under 18, but also provides useful information for parents, teachers and professionals who may be supporting a young person. The platform allows young people to access support in a way that may feel safest to them, including by reading information, using chat options or locating services that can assist them.
An Garda Síochána has supported the development of the Help4U platform as part of its commitments to EMPACT, the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. The online child exploitation team at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau supported Europol in developing the platform, with the aim of helping to prevent online child exploitation and providing advice and assistance to child victims.
The Help4U platform also signposts users to Irish support services, including Hotline.ie, which facilitates the reporting of online child sexual exploitation material, and ISPCC.ie, which provides a 24-hour helpline for children.
Help4U is intended to provide a safe and accessible starting point for young people who may be unsure where to turn. It gives practical guidance, helps young people understand that support is available, and assists them in taking the next step towards getting help.
The Help4U platform can be accessed at:
H4U – Help4U Platform - https://www.help4u-project.eu/