There's a danger that one in six primary schools will be left behind because they are not using the Stay Safe Programme. This child abuse prevention programme, which is jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Science, will be taught as an integral part of the Social, Personal Health Education (SPHE) programme when the new primary curriculum is introduced.

The schools already using the programme are delighted with it, according to research. The response from the 72 per cent of schools who have implemented the programme has been "overwhelmingly positive," says Rose Cullen, co-ordinator of the programme.

Although it's not yet known when the new curriculum will be introduced, "it's envisaged that Stay Safe will be taught as an integral part of SPHE when the new curriculum is introduced," she adds.

Dr Deirdre MacIntyre, co-director and co-author of the programme with Dr Maria Lawlor, says that when the programme was first introduced on a national basis in 1992-93, "there was misinformation. We had to do a great deal of work to combat that. But, it's no longer contentious. Now, when schools do teach it, they realise that it's something that enhances relationships between teachers and children and between parents and children. We would like to see a higher implementation rate."

As well as focusing on children, the programme is also "about skilling adults up," explains MacIntryre. "I see it as an organic process. You're going to need to update on a constant basis, respond to legislative changes. When mandatory reporting comes in, that's going to create a whole new need for training. There are targeted groups right across the board."

Part of the programme includes involving parents, who are invited to the school to learn about the programme, its aims and its methods.

Revision and up-dating of the programme is on-going and a video is being sent to schools for use in particular with first class to fourth class.

The total pack "is very soundly based," says MacIntyre. "It's quite deceptive in the simplicity of its architecture, but 10 years of research went into the current pack.

"We're trying to boost children's self-esteem, not just giving them skills which will help them to recognise, detect or report incidences. We are also aiming to enhance communication between children and parents and help them to see that they can speak with adults and they can expect a sympathetic response.

"A child who is sexually abused feels very stigmatised, and has very low self-esteem. So, part of the message is that it's not your fault. Although the term `sexually abused' is never used or named, it is couched in such a way that they will know. It's done very subtly. It's very healing and affirming. There are other messages also."

The health promotion unit at the Department of Health, which produced the programme, provides advice for schools using the programme. For those still reluctant to implement it, there is a co-teach option - a teacher will go to a school and teach alongside the teachers.

The support service provided by the Child Abuse Prevention Programme also includes parent education, teacher training and community education. MacIntyre points out that, although there are other child protection programmes, the Stay Safe Programme is designed specifically for Ireland and is meant to fit in with the wider SPHE programme.

Stay Safe was independently evaluated by the Department of Education and Science in 1995. Its conclusion was that there was "strong support from parents, teachers, principals and chairpersons. They have indicated clearly that they would like to see schools continue to teach it."

To establish further how successful the programme was, MacIntyre carried out a retrospective chart review of all primary school-age children seen in a Dublin sexual assault unit. The central aim was to measure the degree to which Stay Safe was effective in helping children to tell about sexual abuse and thus enable them to access help and support to end the abuse.

The study's most salient finding was that children who take part in Stay Safe were significantly more likely to have disclosed sexual abuse. They were also more likely to make their first disclosure to a teacher rather than to a non-participant.

For information, contact Rose Cullen, programme co-ordinator, Stay Safe, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin 10. Phone (01) 623 2358, fax (01) 623 2358