Prevent Duty
At Gorsefield Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of all pupils is our highest priority. As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we are committed to supporting the UK Government's Prevent Duty.
The Prevent Duty requires schools to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism or extremist views. This forms part of our wider safeguarding arrangements and helps us protect children from all forms of harm.
The Prevent Duty was introduced under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. It aims to safeguard children and young people by:
- Identifying those who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.
- Providing appropriate support and guidance.
- Promoting fundamental British values.
- Encouraging respect, tolerance, and understanding of different faiths, beliefs, and cultures.
Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support extremist ideologies or activities. Extremism can take many forms and may involve views that seek to undermine democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance.
How we promote British Values
We actively promote fundamental British values through our curriculum, assemblies, First News , UNICEF Rights Respecting School and wider school life. These values include:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Children are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, express their views respectfully, and understand the importance of living in a diverse and inclusive society.
Here are 2 examples of phase assemblies where British Values are shared, discussed and understood each week, please take a look!
Phase Assembly 1 Phase Assembly 2
How we keep our children safe
To meet our Prevent Duty responsibilities, we:
- Ensure staff receive appropriate safeguarding, Prevent training including radicalisation and extremism
- Monitor concerns relating to radicalisation as part of our safeguarding procedures.
- Assess risks of pupils drawn into terrorism
- Promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.
- Teach pupils how to stay safe online and recognise risks.
- Work closely with families, local authorities, and external agencies where necessary.
- Referring vulnerable people to Channel.
- Multi-layered ICT filters with designated staff monitoring these
- Confidence about British Values
Any concerns regarding a child's safety or welfare, including concerns about radicalisation, are managed in line with our safeguarding policies and procedures.
Working with Parents and Carers
Parents and carers play an important role in keeping children safe. We encourage families to discuss concerns with the school if they have worries about a child's wellbeing, online activity, or exposure to extremist content.
By working together, we can help children develop resilience, confidence and respect for others.
Further Information
For more information about safeguarding and the Prevent Duty, please contact the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Paice, or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Ireland.
What is Channel?
Channel is an early intervention multi-agency panel designed to safeguard vulnerable individuals from being drawn into extremist or terrorist behaviour. Channel works in a similar way to existing multi-agency partnerships for vulnerable individuals. It is a voluntary process allowing the individual to withdraw from the programme at any time.
Who can make a referral?
Anyone can make a referral. Referrals have come from family members and a wide range of partners: social services, children and adult services, youth offending teams, health, police, education establishments, places of worship and community organisations. You do not need the consent of the subject to make a referral – consent will be sought by the Channel Team before being adopted by Channel.
Please click here for the link to make an online referral to Channel: Bury Channel Referral
As stated above, if you have a concern that regards a family member, you can refer them into Prevent. In addition to this, you may want to visit the website ACT Early – Prevent radicalisation
ACT Early – Prevent radicalisation which is aimed at family and friends of those who are worried about family members being radicalised.
As our school is in the Local Authority of Bury, you can find information about PREVENT and reporting on Bury Council’s website – please click here for more information: Bury Council PREVENT