What is Prevent?

Prevent is part of safeguarding. Its aim is to help protect children and young people from being drawn into terrorism or supporting terrorist activity.

At Stanwix School, we recognise that children and young people can be influenced by what they see, hear and experience both online and in their communities. Our role is to help children develop the knowledge, confidence and critical-thinking skills they need to stay safe and make informed choices.

Prevent applies to all forms of terrorism and extremist ideologies. It is not about someone's religion, faith, culture or political views.

What is radicalisation?

Radicalisation is the process by which a person may come to support terrorism or extremist ideas that can lead to terrorism.

There is no single pathway to radicalisation, and there is no single type of person who is vulnerable. A range of personal, social or online circumstances may increase someone's vulnerability. These can include feeling isolated, experiencing a significant change or difficulty in their life, searching for identity or belonging, or being influenced or groomed by others.

Children can also be exposed to extremist content and influences online.

What might we notice?

There is no single set of signs that means someone is being radicalised. However, changes in behaviour or circumstances may prompt us to look more closely and consider whether a child needs support.

These might include:

• becoming increasingly isolated from friends or family
• significant changes in behaviour, relationships or routines
• becoming increasingly intolerant of other people or different viewpoints
• expressing increasingly extreme or hateful views
• accessing or sharing extremist material online
• appearing to be influenced or groomed by someone online or in person
• becoming secretive about online activity.

A change in behaviour does not mean that a child is being radicalised. Staff consider concerns alongside the child's wider circumstances and wellbeing.

How does Stanwix School support children?

Prevent is part of our wider safeguarding work.

We:

• provide children with opportunities to develop critical thinking and digital safety skills
• promote respect, tolerance and understanding of different beliefs and backgrounds
• encourage children to question information and recognise misinformation and harmful online content
• provide a safe environment where children can talk about worries or things they have seen online
• ensure staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities
• work with parents, carers and appropriate external agencies when concerns arise.

We promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We also ensure that political views are not promoted in our teaching and that, where political issues are discussed, pupils have the opportunity to consider different viewpoints appropriately.

What happens if we have a concern?

If a member of staff is concerned that a child may be vulnerable to radicalisation, they will follow the school's safeguarding procedures and speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The focus is on keeping the child safe and understanding what support they may need. Where appropriate, the school may seek advice or make a referral to Prevent or other safeguarding partners. Prevent referrals are assessed to determine whether support through the Channel process may be appropriate.

Prevent is about early support and safeguarding, not labelling or criminalising children.

What can parents and carers do?

Parents and carers can play an important role in helping children stay safe.

Talk to your child about:

• what they see and share online
• how to recognise unreliable or harmful information
• being respectful of people with different beliefs and backgrounds
• who they can talk to if something online makes them uncomfortable or worried.

If you are concerned about something your child has seen, heard or become involved with, please talk to us. You do not need to be certain that there is a problem before asking for advice.

If you have a concern

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please contact Stanwix School and speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Darren Glynn. 

You can also seek advice from the police.

• Police: 101 for non-emergency enquiries
• Emergency: 999 if someone is in immediate danger
• National Prevent advice: 0800 011 3764

Further information about the Prevent duty and safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation is available from the UK Government.

At Stanwix School, our priority is to ensure that every child feels safe, valued, listened to and able to thrive