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.

The Government’s Prevent strategy is set out here: www.homeoffice.gov.uk 

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.
• If we have concerns around radicalisation or extremism, we would make a referral to Trafford Social Care

What does this mean in practice at Firs Primary School?

We work together with the police and LA to focus on three key themes:

• Safeguarding vulnerable individuals through the provision of advice and support and intervention projects.
• Working closely with institutions such as Universities, Schools, Prisons, Health, Charities and faith establishments.
• Challenging terrorist ideology by working closely with other local and national agencies, partners and our communities

Trafford Prevent information: www.traffordsafeguardingpartnership.org.uk

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 a strong Aims and Ethos which pervades our school.
• Focusing on core values.
• 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 Firs Primary School.

The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.