Prevent Strategy Information for Parents

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 political and religious extremism.

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

All schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.

This means schools have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views, in the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.

Importantly, schools can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so that they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

Include information about your school’s approach here, for example:

  • 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
  • Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation, such as using filters on the internet or vetting visitors who come into school

Frequently Asked Questions

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 the response to the Prevent strategy.

British values include:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty and mutual respect
  • Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Isn’t my child too young to learn about extremism?

The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.

Schools should make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

Is extremism really a risk in our area?
Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and ideological extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.

The intention is to give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.

Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Ideology – a set of beliefs

Terrorism – an action that endangers or causes serious violence to a person/people, causes serious damage to property, or seriously interferes or disrupts an electronic system, and is intended to advance a political, religious or ideological cause.

KEY TERMS

Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a national safeguarding initiative that supports children and young people who may be affected by domestic abuse. The scheme ensures that when the police attend a domestic abuse incident where a child or young person is present, the school is informed at the start of the next working day. In St Helens, we work closely with Merseyside Police and Operation Encompass to ensure that appropriate, timely support can be put in place. This information is shared securely and sensitively, and only with key safeguarding staff, so that the child’s welfare remains the priority.

Our school is committed to working in partnership with Operation Encompass as part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities. In addition to Merseyside, we also work with other local boroughs to ensure continuity of support for students who may live in, or be affected by incidents in, neighbouring areas. Being informed at an early stage allows us to offer understanding, pastoral care, and appropriate adjustments during the school day, such as access to a trusted adult or additional emotional support, helping us respond in a caring and proactive way to support our students’ wellbeing.

Our SCO plays a crucial role in providing further information and supporting or signposting our students who may be affected.

Useful Links

Advice to parents and carers on keeping children safe from abuse and harm www.gov.uk