Prevent Strategy
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.
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.
Staff at Ashton Gate have completed the government's Prevent training on how to identify radicalisation and extremism. We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in our care.
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.
· 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
How does Prevent relate to British values?
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 and mutual respect
· Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
How can parents support children and young people to stay safe?
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Know where your child is, who they are with and check this for yourself
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Know their friends
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Keep communication open, listen to your child and talk to them about their interests
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Encourage positivity towards local groups that you can trust
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Talk to them about what they see on TV or on the internet,
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Allow and encourage debate and questions about the world
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Allow and encourage debate about the media and does it show a true reflection
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Encourage your child to consider E-Safety at home.
Where to go for more information
If you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent strategy and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Jones.
You will find more details about radicalisation in our safeguarding policy, available on our website.
We also have information about spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and British values on the website.
Resources for Parents