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Safeguarding & child protection

PREVENT

What is PREVENT?

Prevent is part of the UK’s counter terrorism strategy, aimed at preventing people from becoming involved in terrorism or supporting terrorism in our communities.

Prevent is aimed at

  • Tackling the causes of radicalisation
  • Providing early intervention for those at risk of radicalisation (Channel)
  • Providing rehabilitation (Desistence and Disengagement)

From 1 July 2015 all schools, registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers are subject to a duty to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be seen as part of schools’ and childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties.

Schools and childcare providers should also build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values enabling them to challenge extremist views. It is important to emphasise that the Prevent duty is not intended to stop pupils debating controversial issues. On the contrary, schools should provide a safe space in which children, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.

(Devon County Council, Safeguarding one minute guide)