Wood Lane Primary School

Wood Lane Primary School

Prevent

Wood Lane Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. As a school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. All staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 states that local authorities are deemed as specified authorities and as such are responsible for the implementation of the Prevent Duty – “in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

The threat of International terrorism in the UK is substantial.

In line with guidance from the Department for Education (DfE),  School has a Wood Lane Primary School has a  zero tolerance acceptance of extremist behavior and ensures that our care, guidance and curriculum empower our young children to reject violent or extremist behavior.

Whilst it remains very rare for primary aged children to be involved in extremist activity, young children can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views, including via the internet from an early age. Early intervention and prevention of exposure are preferable ways of tackling extremism.

What is Prevent?

Prevent is part of the national counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. Prevent aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism and extremism. This includes:

Please refer to the Home Office website for additional information on the Prevent Duty.
 (www.gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

Prevent in the Early Years

The aim of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy is to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests oversea from terrorism. The duty is known as the Prevent Duty. All schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter- Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism ". E

arly Years Settings have a critical role in the Prevent Duty. The Early Years FoundationStage (EYFS)describes clear duties that Early Years Provider shave to keep children safe and promote their welfare. It makes it clear that to protect children in their care, providers must be alert to any safeguarding and child protection issues in the child's life at home or elsewhere (paragraph 3.4). The Ofsted Common Inspection Framework implemented in September 2015 includes reference to "providers promoting children's welfare and preventing radicalisation and extremism".

Definition Extremism can be defined as "holding extreme opinions: the holding of extreme political or religious views or the taking of extreme actions on the basis of those".

Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favoring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind.

Further information:

If you have any concerns please visit the  ACT Early website to find out more about the signs that someone may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

There is also a range of telephone numbers for members of the public who are concerned about individuals who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism:

School Policy

The main aims of this policy statement are to ensure that staff are fully engaged in being vigilant about radicalisation; that they overcome professional disbelief that such issues will not happen here and ensure that we work alongside other professional bodies and agencies to ensure that our pupils are safe from harm. The principle objectives are that:

Definition and Indicators

Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind. Extremism is defined as the holding of extreme political or religious views.

Strategies for preventing extremism

Strategies for Preventing Extremism The Office for Security and Counter Terrorism works to counter the threat from terrorism and their work is detailed in the counter terrorism strategy CONTEST.

The strategy is based on four areas of work:

Pursue To stop terrorist attacks.

Prevent To stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Protect To strengthen our protection against terrorist attack.

Prepare To mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack.

Our role, as a school, is outlined more specifically in the DfE document "Learning together to be safe: A toolkit to help schools contribute to the prevention of violent extremism".

At Wood Lane Primary School we follow the principles outlined in the toolkit which seeks to: Raise awareness amongst staff within school of the threat from violent extremist groups and the risks to young people. Provide information about what can cause violent extremism, about preventative actions taking place locally and nationally and where to get additional information and advice. Help schools understand the positive contribution they can make to empower young people to create communities that are more resilient to extremism and protecting the wellbeing of particular pupils or groups who may be vulnerable to being drawn into violent extremist activity. Provide advice on managing risks and responding to incidents locally, nationally or internationally that might have an impact on the school community. 

DCSF-Learning Together_bkmk.pdf

The school will use these principles to guide our work in all areas including building on our work in:

Promoting pupil wellbeing, equalities and community cohesion

Building the resilience of the school, working with partners, to prevent pupils becoming the victims or causes of harm

Working with other agencies and parents to build community networks to support the school.

As a primary school setting at Wood Lane Primary School we have the responsibility to meet the following criteria;

To do this practitioners will:

Procedure for Referrals

Although serious incidents involving radicalisation have not occurred at  Wood Lane Primary School to date, it is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the region in which we teach. Staff are reminded to suspend any professional disbelief that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to refer any concerns through the appropriate channels (currently via the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Headteacher).

We believe that it is possible to intervene to protect people who are vulnerable. Early intervention is vital and staff must be aware of the established processes for front line professionals to refer concerns about individuals and/or groups. We must have the confidence to challenge, the confidence to intervene and ensure that we have strong safeguarding practices based on the most up-to-date guidance and best practice.

The Designated Lead for Child Protection and Safeguarding and the Headteacher will deal swiftly with any referrals made by staff or with concerns reported by staff.

The Headteacher will discuss the most appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis and will decide when a referral to external agencies is needed. 

The role of the Curriculum

Our curriculum promotes respect, tolerance and diversity. We are committed to ensuring that our pupils are offered a broad and balanced curriculum that aims to prepare them for life in modern Britain. Children are encouraged to share their views and recognise that they are entitled to have their own different beliefs which should not be used to influence others. Our PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), Citizenship and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision is embedded across the curriculum, and underpins the ethos of the school.  Teaching the schools’ core values alongside the fundamental British values supports quality teaching and learning, whilst making a positive contribution to the development of a fair, just and civil society. Children are regularly taught about how to stay safe when using the Internet and are encouraged to recognise that people are not always who they say they are online. They are taught to seek adult help if they are upset or concerned about anything they read or see on the Internet

The role of the Governing Body

The Governing Body of our school will undertake appropriate training to ensure that they are clear about their role and the parameters of their responsibilities as Governors, including their statutory safeguarding duties. The Governing Body will support the ethos and values of our school and will support the school in tackling extremism and radicalisation. In line with the provisions set out in the DfE guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018’ the governing body will challenge the school’s senior management team on the delivery of this policy and monitor its effectiveness.

Recruitment

The arrangements for recruiting all staff, permanent and volunteers, to our school will follow  guidance Staffordshire County Councils policy for safer recruitment best practice in education settings, including, but not limited to, ensuring that DBS checks are always made at the appropriate level, that references are always received and checked and that we complete and maintain a single central record of such vetting checks. We will apply safer recruitment best practice principles and sound employment practice in general and in doing so will deny opportunities for inappropriate recruitment or advancement. We will be alert to the possibility that persons may seek to gain positions within our school so as to unduly influence our schools character and ethos. We are aware that such persons seek to limit the opportunities for our pupils thereby rendering them vulnerable to extremist views and radicalisation as a consequence. Therefore, by adhering to safer recruitment best practice techniques and by ensuring that there is an ongoing culture of vigilance within our school and staff team we will minimise the opportunities for extremist views to prevail.

Staff Training

 All staff and governors, including contracted staff that work onsite everyday (such as kitchen staff/cleaning staff) complete annually training for prevent.

Through INSET opportunities in school, we will ensure that our staff are fully aware of the threats, risks and vulnerabilities that are linked to radicalisation; are aware of the process of radicalisation and how this might be identified early on.

Links to other policies:

Our school’s Policy also draws upon the guidance contained in the DfE Guidance “Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2018”; and specifically

DCSF Resources “Learning Together to be Safe”,2

“Prevent: Resources Guide”,

“Tackling Extremism in the UK”,

DfE’s “Teaching Approaches that help Build Resilience to Extremism among Young People”.

Please see the website below, to access the training that staff undertake.

Prevent duty training - GOV.UK

Channel

Channel is a key element of the Prevent strategy.

It is a multi-agency approach to protect people at risk from radicalisation.

Channel uses existing collaboration between local authorities, statutory partners (such as the education and health sectors, social services, children’s and youth services and offender management services), the police and the local community to:

Channel is about safeguarding children and adults from being drawn into committing terrorist-related activity. It is about early intervention to protect and divert people away from the risk they face before illegality occurs.

Channel is one tactical option employed by Prevent and has recently been placed on a statutory footing.

To understand more about the Channel Programme further information can be found here – www.gov.uk/government/publications/channel-guidance

Channel vulnerability assessment - Publications - GOV.UK

All our Staff and Governors complete the online training package that covers Prevent and Channel which can be found here – http://course.ncalt.com/Channel_General_Awareness

Training for our staff ensures:

Staff are fully aware of the threats, risks and vulnerabilities that are linked to radicalisation, aware of the process of radicalisation and how this might be identified early Practitioners are aware of how we can provide support to help families and children to be resilient and able to resist involvement in radical or extreme activities.

Our Designated Safeguard Lead (DSL) and Deputy DLS will attend regular training and network Safeguarding meetings.

Procedure for referrals

Any colleague with concerns will speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs Fraser)/ Headteacher or the DDL (Mrs Foran) The concern will be logged on CPOMs and a timeline started. The Staffordshire Prevent coordinator will be contacted, if deemed appropriate and or necessary.

Useful Websites

The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation - GOV.UK

Making a referral to Prevent - GOV.UK

Bing Videos

Radicalisation and child protection | NSPCC Learning

Prevent in Schools - Teaching Resources for Prevent duty

What are the signs of radicalisation? | ACT Early

Prevent Duty Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

Channel Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/channel-guidance

 

Prevent duty: advice on promoting fundamental British values

The Prevent duty: departmental advice for schools and childcare providers 

Keeping children safe in education

Working together to safeguard children