Prevent Duty
What is the Prevent Duty?
- 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 duty 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.
What does this mean at Lane End 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:
- Having strong Aims and Ethos which underpin everything we do at Lane End Primary School.
- Focusing on core values: Respect, Honesty, Consideration, Endeavour and Courage.
- 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.
We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.
Isn't my child too young to learn about extremism?
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. This is what we will focus on at Lane End Primary School.
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.
While it remains rare for children and young people to become involved in terrorist activity, they can be exposed to terrorist and extremist influences or prejudiced views from a young age. This can include through the influence of family members or friends and/or direct contact with extremist groups and organisations or, increasingly, through the internet. This can put a young person at risk of being drawn into illegal activity and has the potential to cause significant harm.
We will endeavour to give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Further Information
Contact the school - If you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent Strategy and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
See our policies - You will find more details about radicalisation in the following policies, available on our website:
- Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
- ICT and Internet Acceptable Use Policy
- Letting policy
- PSHE Policy
- RE Policy
- SMSC Policy
We also have a page of information on our website about how we develop British Values as part of our curriculum.
External Sources - The following sources may also be useful for further information:
Key Terms:
Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values.
Ideology – a set of beliefs.
Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause.
Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism.
