Prevent
Keeping children safe from the risk of radicalisation
At Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School, safeguarding our children is at the heart of everything we do.
As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we have a duty to protect children from the risk of being drawn into terrorism or extremist activity. This is known as the Prevent duty.
Prevent is part of our wider safeguarding approach and sits alongside our work to protect children from other forms of harm.
What is Prevent?
The Prevent strategy is part of the UK Government's approach to preventing terrorism.
Its aim is to:
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tackle the ideological causes of terrorism
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support people who may be susceptible to radicalisation at an early stage
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help people who have become involved in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.
Schools have a legal duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
For schools, Prevent is fundamentally about safeguarding children and helping them develop the knowledge, skills and resilience to make safe and informed choices.
What does Prevent look like at Primrose Hill?
Much of what we already do to support children to become confident, respectful and responsible members of society contributes to our Prevent duty.
We:
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promote respect, tolerance and understanding of different cultures, faiths and beliefs
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encourage children to ask questions and express their views respectfully
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teach children to recognise that information they encounter may not always be accurate or trustworthy
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develop children's critical thinking skills
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challenge discriminatory, racist or hateful language and behaviour
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promote positive relationships and a sense of belonging
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help children understand the importance of democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty
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provide children with safe and age-appropriate opportunities to discuss difficult or sensitive issues
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promote safe and responsible use of technology and the internet
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provide appropriate safeguarding training and guidance for staff.
Our approach is age-appropriate and proportionate to the needs of our children and our school community.
Can children really be at risk of radicalisation?
Radicalisation can happen in different ways and through different influences, including online.
Children may encounter ideas or content that promote hatred, intolerance or violence through social media, online platforms, games, videos or other sources.
We recognise that children are growing up in a rapidly changing digital world. We therefore help them develop the skills to question what they see and hear, recognise harmful or misleading information and know when to ask a trusted adult for help.
We do not expect children to understand or discuss complex issues about terrorism or extremism at an inappropriate age.
Instead, our teaching is carefully adapted to children's age and maturity.
Promoting respect and understanding
Our Prevent work is closely connected to our wider curriculum and our commitment to inclusion.
We encourage children to:
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respect people who may have different beliefs, cultures or backgrounds
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listen to different viewpoints
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disagree respectfully
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recognise and challenge prejudice
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understand the importance of fairness and equality
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contribute positively to their school and wider community.
We want our children to grow up feeling confident in who they are while being respectful and curious about the world around them.
What happens if we have a concern?
If a member of staff has a concern that a child may be vulnerable to radicalisation or extremist influence, this will be treated as a safeguarding concern.
Concerns are shared with our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or a Deputy DSL and considered alongside the child's individual circumstances and wider safeguarding needs.
Where appropriate, the school may seek advice or support from relevant safeguarding partners and specialist services, including through the Prevent referral process.
Any action taken will be proportionate and focused on safeguarding the child.
A Prevent concern does not automatically mean that a child or family has done anything wrong. The purpose of early intervention is to provide appropriate support before concerns escalate.
Online safety and Prevent
The online world can expose children to a wide range of information, opinions and influences.
Our Online Safety curriculum helps children to:
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think critically about what they see online
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recognise that information may be misleading or untrue
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understand how online content can influence people
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use technology safely and responsibly
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know how to report inappropriate content
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know when and how to seek help from a trusted adult.
For further information, please visit our Online Safety page.
If you have a concern
If you are worried about something your child has seen, heard or experienced, please talk to us.
You can speak to any member of our safeguarding team.
You do not need to know whether something is a Prevent concern before contacting us.
If you have a concern about a child's safety or wellbeing, please also visit our Safeguarding page.
Useful information
Prevent Duty Guidance
The Government's statutory Prevent guidance explains the responsibilities of organisations working to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
Read the Government's Prevent Duty Guidance
Act Early – Prevent
Information about recognising signs that someone may be vulnerable to radicalisation and how to seek support.
Educate Against Hate
Practical resources and guidance for parents, teachers and schools about protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.
Keeping children safe
Our Prevent work is not about frightening children or telling them what to think.
It is about helping children to think for themselves, respect others, recognise harmful influences and know when to ask for help.
Prevent forms part of our wider safeguarding commitment to keeping every child at Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School safe, supported and able to thrive.
