What is the Prevent strategy?

The government strategy ‘Prevent’ is designed to help stop people supporting terrorist or extremist causes or becoming a terrorist themselves. Prevent 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 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 other dangers. Hotwells Primary provides a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy part of the community also work towards 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 – these values are reflected in our school vision and school values.

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, through safety measures such as using filters on the internet to stop access to extremist and terrorist materials, and checking visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

All of our staff have up to date prevent training, to understand the risk of radicalisation and extremism, the factors that make people vulnerable to being drawn in to terrorism, how to recognise this and how to report a concern.

Our prevent lead at the school is our DSL, Kee Jones.

If you have concerns about someone you know being radicalised please read the information leaflet attached: PREVENT leaflet for the public

The purpose of the following website  is to provide practical advice, support and resources to protect children from extremism and radicalisation. Here you will find Q&A and resources to help you protect your child: https://educateagainsthate.com/parents/