Prevent

COUNTER TERRORISM AND SECURITY ACT 2015

The Counter Terrorism and Security Bill, places a duty on specified authorities to have due regard, in the exercise of its functions to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. Preventing people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism also requires challenge to extremist ideas where they are used to legitimise terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups.

CONTEST

The Prevent strategy, is part of the UK Governments overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.

CONTEST has four main objectives:
Pursue   – To stop terrorist attacks
Prepare  – Where an attack cannot be stopped, to mitigate its impact
Protect   – To strengthen overall protection against terrorist attacks
Prevent  – To stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremists

Risk Assessment

At Rugby Free Primary School, Governors and Senior Leaders will, when necessary make an assessment on the risk of any pupils being drawn into terrorism, including support for the extremist ideas that are part of terrorist ideology. This will be based on an understanding, shared with partners, of the potential risk in the local area.

We are able to demonstrate that we protect our children and young people from being drawn into terrorism by having robust safeguarding policies in place to identify children at risk, and intervening as appropriate (by referring pupils to Children’s Social Care, for example). We have clear protocols for ensuring that any visiting speakers are suitable and appropriately supervised within school.

At Rugby Free Primary School we ensure that fundamental British values are promoted in the delivery of the curriculum and extra-curricular activities and reflected in the general conduct of the school. As initially we have just EYFS, we have a specific document which details how we incorporate these into our curriculum and ensure our children understand their importance.

Working in Partnership

Rugby Free Primary School works in partnership with inter-agency safeguarding procedures set up by Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board. Our school’s Child Protection policy describes procedures which are in accordance with government guidance.

Staff Training

We ensure that governors and staff have opportunities to receive the necessary training that gives them the knowledge and confidence to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and challenge extremist ideas which can be used to legitimise terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups. This includes training upon where and how to refer children and young people for further help.

Safety Online

We are acutely aware of how the internet can be used to radicalise young people and our E-safety policies and procedures reflect this. We use appropriate levels of filtering to try to ensure that our children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet in school.

Monitoring and Enforcement

We have made every effort to implement Prevent awareness and British Values into our day to day school safeguarding duties and the curriculum. We are aware that all publicly-funded schools are inspected by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) and are subject to intervention if they fail to provide a satisfactory education.

Where failure is very severe the  governing body can be replaced or they can be closed. When assessing the effectiveness of schools, Ofsted inspectors already have regard to the school’s approach to keeping pupils safe from the risk of radicalisation and extremism, and to procedures when it is suspected that pupils are being drawn into extremism or terrorist-related activity.

Early education funding regulations have been amended to ensure that providers who fail to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs do not receive funding.

Ofsted’s current inspection framework for early years provision reflects the requirements in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

For more information please see: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417943/Prevent_Duty_Guidance_England_Wales.pdf

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS

Safeguarding vulnerable people from radicalisation is no different from safeguarding them from other forms of harm. The following are indicators which may suggest a person is vulnerable to extremist influences or radicalisation. It is NOT an exhaustive list and is NOT a checklist

• Viewing extreme material online when not for educational purposes
• Communicating with extreme groups or individuals
• Seeking to recruit others to an extremist ideology
• Voicing opinions drawn from extremist ideologies and narratives
• Use of extremist or ‘hate’ terms to exclude others or to promote violence
• Possession of violent extremist literature or advocating violent actions
• Graffiti, symbols, writing or art work promoting extremist messages or images
• Lack of understanding of religious or political views
• Becoming secretive, withdrawn or increasingly isolated
• Appearance drastically changing
• Parental concerns re behavioural changes or changes in friendship and social groups
• New addictions or new obsessions
• Suffering bereavement or loss
• Struggling to form healthy relationships

WHAT TO DO IF I HAVE A CONCERN?

Any concerns can be reported to Rugby Free Primary School Safeguarding Team:

DESIGNATED SENIOR LEADER:

Miss Rebecca Butters (Headteacher)

DEPUTY DESIGNATED SENIOR LEADER:

Miss Natasha Samra (Deputy Headteacher)

Miss Emily Hearle

SAFEGUARDING GOVERNOR:

Miss Ira Jones

Alternatively, concerns can also be reported directly to the police who have specially trained Prevent Officers. They have excellent experience of understanding vulnerabilities and providing support and advice to individuals and communities.

Warwickshire Safeguarding Board can also be contacted on 01926 410410 or out of hours on 01926 886 922 for further advice.