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 the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.

How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism. 

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

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

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 our 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,  It is also about teaching children's values such as tolerance and mutual respect.

The school will 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 misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others.

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

What does this mean in practice?

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

These include:

• 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

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.

Other work we do to embed the Prevent Strategy.

• Curriculum Integration - Subjects like PD, citizenship, and religious studies promote critical thinking, tolerance, and British values.

• Safeguarding Policies - Our school Safeguarding Policy implement clear policies for identifying and reporting concerns about radicalisation
• Engagement with External Agencies - We work with Lancashire Prevent Service and provide a workshop to all pupils. We also work with local authorities, police, and Prevent officers to provide support and intervention when necessary.

 

How can parents support the Prevent strategy in several ways:

• Educating Themselves - Learning about radicalisation, online dangers, and signs of extremist influences helps parents stay informed and vigilant.
• Open Conversations - Encouraging discussions about current events, different beliefs, and critical thinking helps children develop resilience against extremist narratives.
• Monitoring Online Activity -Keeping an eye on social media use, gaming platforms, and online interactions can help prevent exposure to radical content.
• Promoting Tolerance and British Values - Teaching children respect, diversity, and democratic values helps build a strong, inclusive mindset.
• Reporting Concerns – If you notice worrying changes in behaviour or extremist influences, contact the school

 

More information on Prevent can be found at Lancashire Prevent