Prevent
What is the Prevent duty?
The Prevent duty is the duty to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.”
It is a government strategy designed to stop people being drawn into terrorism or having extremist views.
In order to understand the Prevent duty fully, we must have an understanding of what ‘radicalisation’ and ‘extremism’ mean.
- Radicalisation: The process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to it. Radicalisation doesn’t happen overnight; it is a gradual process that happens over time.
- Extremism: Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values
What does school need to do?
In order to fulfil the Prevent duty in schools:
- We must build upon pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.
- It is essential that staff are able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and know what to do when it is identified.
As a school, we promote the fundamental British values through both our taught curriculum (the learning that takes place through taught sessions in class) and through our caught curriculum (the learning that takes place around school, without discrete teaching). Both our PSHE and RE curriculums have a large role in promoting discussion and encouraging children to challenge and tolerate the views of others.
Please take a look at our Prevent Strategy Leaflet for Parents & Carers
St Thomas' Prevent Strategy Leaflet for Parents & Carers
How can parents support their child?
We all want our children to live in a safe and loving environment so that they can grow up to become happy, confident adults. You will already know that your children can be vulnerable to risks both inside and outside the home, and will have taken steps to protect them so they can grow, learn and develop to their fullest potential. Protecting your children from radicalisation and extremism is similar to protecting them from the other harms you may be more familiar with.
The NSPCC has launched a helpline to support adults who have concerns about children and young people being radicalised or who need advice on how to talk to their children about issues related to terrorism. They have published a short film encouraging parents to use its helpline to talk through any concerns they may have about their child being radicalised. Warning signs include: talking as if from a scripted speech; unwillingness or inability to discuss their views; a sudden disrespectful attitude towards others; increased secretiveness, especially around internet use. However, these signs do not necessarily mean a child is being radicalised.
Video link - https://www.youtube.com/
Further information
Educate against Hate website; http://
NSPCC website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/dedicated-helplines/protecting-children-from-radicalisation/