Prevent Statement

What is the Prevent strategy?

Prevent is a Government strategy designed to stop people being drawn into acts or terrorism or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views in exactly the same way we protect them from any other harm. Building resilience in our young people and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of preventing radicalisation. We want to instil in our children the knowledge and confidence to recognise and challenge extremist beliefs and ideologies. At Minster-in-Sheppey Primary School, we do this by providing a safe place in which children can discuss issues at an age-appropriate level.

What does this mean in practice at Minster-in-Sheppey Primary School?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent Strategy.

These include:

• focusing on the core values of  ‘ ‘To be the best we can be’ The best learner, the best friend, the best citizen.
• exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
• challenging prejudices and racist comments
• developing a strong understanding of what is right and wrong and the moral confidence to   
• stand up for this
• developing critical thinking skills and an emphasis on positive self-identity
• promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
• promotion of British values e.g. democracy and the rule of law
• SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision is embedded across the curriculum
• Our PSHRE (Scarf) Curriculum promotes learning about healthy relationships, valuing difference, rights and responsibilities and keeping ourselves safe
• Pupils are taught how to staff safe when using the Internet and encouraged to recognise that people are not always who they say they are online.
• Pupils are taught to seek adult support if they are upset or concerned about anything they read or see on the Internet.

We will also directly protect children from the risk of radicalisation in more specific ways, such as:

• using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist materials
• following thorough systems for vetting of visitors who come into school to work with pupils and completing checklists with visiting speakers and groups to ensure the content they share with our pupils is appropriate.

The arrangements for recruiting all staff, permanent and volunteers, to our school will follow  safer recruitment best practice in education settings, including, but not limited to: 

• Safe Internet searches are carried out on candidates invited to interview.
• ensuring that DBS checks are always made at the appropriate level
• that references are always received and checked
• that we complete and maintain a single central record of such vetting checks.

Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?

We are mindful of the fact that some of the issues around extremism are not appropriate for children of a young age to be exposed to. However, the Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself but is more about teaching children important core values such as tolerance and mutual respect. The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

Is extremism really a risk in our area?

Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.

We will endeavour to give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.

How are staff trained to prevent extremism and radicalisation?

• All staff undertake annual training linked to the Prevent Duty
• Prevent duty training - GOV.UK
• Our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads all undertake additional Training to support with the making of referrals if required.
• All staff are aware of the need to remain vigilant and how to report any concern they have.
• Staff are also aware of the checklist protocol to be used when booking any visiting speakers or groups.
• Staff are aware of the appropriate response to make to any filtering and monitoring

Does the school have a risk assessment?

As a school we will assess the risk of our children being drawn into terrorism.

• Our staff will have a general understanding of the risks affecting the children within our community. This would include the increased risk of online radicalisation;
• Our staff will have a specific understanding of how to identify individual children who may be at risk of radicalisation and what to do to support them;
• In line with our safeguarding policy, staff will be alert to any changes in children’s behaviour which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection;
• As a staff, we would use our professional judgement in identifying children who may be at risk of radicalisation and act appropriately, depending on the level of risk. Again, as in line with our safeguarding policy, action would be taken if staff observe any behaviour that may cause concern;
• If necessary, (if we felt a child might be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism) we would make a referral.

 The Department for Education has dedicated a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable staff to raise concerns relating to extremism directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk. Please note that the helpline is not intended for use in emergency situations, such as a child being at immediate risk of harm or a security incident. In such emergency situations where there is an immediate risk, we will refer to the Channel Programme, which focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.

Working in partnership

The Prevent Duty builds on our existing local partnership arrangements.

• We work closely with our a range of other agencies;
• As our safeguarding policy outlines, we have effective engagement with parents;
• As a school we would assist and advise families who raise concerns and ensure the appropriate support mechanisms are in place.

Resources for parents

Top tips to help parents discuss radicalisation and extremism with young people