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PREVENT Extremism and Radicalisation
What is the Prevent strategy?
- Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
- The Prevent Strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other 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 the same way we protect them from any other harm.
- Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues, at an appropriate level so they better understand how to protect themselves.
Staff Training
All staff at VIPs Holborough Lakes School have completed the government's Prevent training on how to identify radicalisation and extremism. We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in our care.
What does this mean in practice?
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:
· Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity.
· Challenging prejudices and racist comments
· Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self -identity.
· Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy
How does Prevent relate to British values?
Schools have been required to promote British values since 2014, and this will continue to be part of our response to the Prevent strategy.
British values include:
· Democracy
· The rule of law
· Individual liberty and mutual respect
· Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Is my child too young to learn about extremism?
No, the Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children 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 give children the skills to protect them from any extremist vies they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Teaching
As a UNICEF (Silver Status) School our curriculum teaches the children to make informed decisions which are respectful and kind. Our children are taught to listen to others with tolerance and offer their own opinions and views respectfully. We allow the children to explore other cultures and religions through our robust RE scheme of work. This promotes diversity and fosters religious and cultural tolerance.
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they cannot access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
How to raise Concerns
Should concerns require support from other agencies there are a number of ways that issues relating to terrorism and extremism can be reported. These include the following –
•Dept for Education Due Diligence & Counter Extremism Group: 020 7340 7264
•Anti Terrorist Hotline: 0800 789 321
•Crime stoppers: 0800 555 111
•Relevant Police force: 101
•www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-activity-to-mi5
•www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
The following resources are available to find out more about the Prevent strategy:
The Prevent strategy:
www.gov.uk/government/policies/protecting-the-uk-against-terrorism/supporting-pages/prevent
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/97976/prevent-strategy-review.pdf
The Prevent Duty:
Prevent duty guidance - Publications - GOV.UK