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Prevent
At Hullavington CE Primary and Nursery School, the safety and wellbeing of our children is always our priority. As part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities, we have a duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism through the Government's Prevent Duty.
What is Prevent?
Prevent is part of the Government's CONTEST strategy and aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It focuses on identifying individuals who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and providing appropriate support at an early stage.
Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support extremist ideas or is encouraged to become involved in terrorism. This can happen to anyone and may take place both online and offline.
Children and young people can be particularly vulnerable to influences they encounter through social media, the internet, friendships and wider society.
What does this mean for our school?
Prevent is an important part of our safeguarding work. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment in which every child feels valued, respected and supported.
We do this by:
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Promoting our Christian values and encouraging respect, kindness, tolerance and understanding of others.
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Helping children to develop an understanding of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect.
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Teaching children to think critically, question information and recognise that not everything they see or read online is reliable.
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Promoting online safety and helping children understand how to stay safe when using the internet and social media.
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Encouraging children to share their thoughts, ask questions and talk openly in a safe and supportive environment.
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Ensuring staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and know how to recognise and report concerns.
Recognising and Responding to Concerns
There is no single indicator that someone may be at risk of radicalisation. However, changes in behaviour, exposure to harmful extremist content or concerning influences may sometimes indicate that a child needs additional support.
We take all safeguarding concerns seriously. Staff are trained to recognise and report concerns, which are considered carefully by our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Where appropriate, we work with families and relevant external agencies to ensure that children receive the right support.
Prevent is about safeguarding and early intervention, not making assumptions or judgements about individuals, their beliefs, faith or background.
What can parents and carers do?
Parents and carers play an important role in keeping children safe. We encourage families to:
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Talk regularly with children about their online experiences and the information they encounter.
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Encourage children to question what they see online and think carefully about where information comes from.
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Be aware of the websites, apps and social media platforms children are accessing.
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Encourage open conversations and reassure children that they can always talk to a trusted adult if something makes them feel uncomfortable or worried.
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Contact school if they have concerns about something their child has seen, heard or experienced.
Further Information
For further information about Prevent and how to keep children safe from radicalisation, the following resources may be helpful:
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GOV.UK – The Prevent Duty: Safeguarding Learners Susceptible to Radicalisation
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Educate Against Hate – Information and advice for parents, carers and schools about protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact the school and ask to speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Our current Prevent Policy can be found by clicking the button below:
