PREVENT

Prevent

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people from becoming drawn into terrorism or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. At Sutton Manor, we also believe that this work extends to supporting children's thinking skills, personal development, and social, cultural and moral experiences so that they grow up without developing extreme views.

 

Since July 2015, all schools (as well as many other organisations) have had a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist, extreme or violent views in the same way as we protect them from drugs or gang violence. This is part of our wider efforts to safeguard and protect children from harm.

 

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 and inclusion

  • Challenging prejudices (behaviour which contradicts any aspect of Equality Law)

  • Developing thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity

  • Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of children

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

  • Mutual respect

  • Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

 

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation and extreme views by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist, extreme or terrorist material or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils. There are also a number of other blocks and filters to ensure children do not access undesirable or dangerous pages on the internet. This is monitored, and we are able to track laptops, iPads and other devices that attempt to access any of these sites.

 

Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the children's age and the community's needs.

KEY TERMS

  • Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

  • 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 extremist behaviour

Child Protection and Safeguarding

Schools must have rigorous policies and procedures in place to safeguard children. Our school has several members of staff who have undertaken specialist training. Each School has a Designated Safeguarding Lead.


The law places a duty on the Headteacher and their staff to report any obvious signs or suspected cases of child abuse – which include non-accidental injury, neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. The procedures are intended to protect children and all schools are expected to take the attitude that where there are grounds for concern it is better to be safe than sorry. This means that the school risks upsetting some parents by reporting a case that proves unfounded on investigation. In such circumstances, it is hoped that families would accept that the school acted in what were believed to be the child’s best interests.


In line with government requirements, the school maintains a central list of checks on appointed staff and adults who work in or visit the school.