About Us

Prevent

Prevent in Education

Prevent is a national programme that aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate interventions, and communities are protected against radicalising influences. The Prevent duty requires specified authorities such as education, health, local authorities, police and criminal justice agencies (prisons and probation) to help prevent the risk of people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. This includes safeguarding learners from extremist ideologies and radicalisation. 

Relevant Definitions 

Radicalisation can happen when a person develops extreme views or beliefs that support terrorist groups or activities. 

Definition of terrorism 
The use or threat of serious violence against a person or serious damage to property where that action is: 

  1. Designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public; and 
  2. for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause. 

Definition of extremism 
The government defines extremism as: “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to: 

  1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or
  2.  undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or 
  3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).” 

 

For more information about your statutory duty see The Prevent Duty Guidance

 

The objectives of Prevent are: 

  • Tackle the ideological causes of terrorism. 
  • Intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation. 
  • Enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate. 

Protecting children and young people from the risk of radicalisation, is a key part of your setting’s overall safeguarding responsibilities, it’s important that all staff and governors know how to protect them from this threat. Understanding how to embed the Prevent duty as part of your wider approach to safeguarding and across the curriculum will help you to protect children, young people, from the risks of radicalisation, violent extremism, becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. 

 

What to do if I have a Prevent concern?

The key considerations for Prevent would be whether you feel an individual may be susceptible to becoming involved in or supporting terrorism, and to check if there is a sufficient concern of radicalisation to terrorism. Any prevent referral is designed to explore concerns further to reduce any risk that may be present. 

Signs to be alert to that may indicate signs of radicalisation:  
  • Behavioural Changes: Sudden, drastic changes in behaviour, increasing anger about unfairness, or adopting intense, hateful, or extremist views. 
  • Isolation: Distancing from friends, family, and mainstream social activities. 
  • Online Activity: Secretive internet usage, spending excessive time online, and accessing extremist propaganda or gaming platforms. 
  • Language: Using "scripted" language or expressing "us and them" narratives. 
  • Appearance: Changing style of dress to conform to an extremist group.
  • Materials: have material or symbols associated with an extreme cause. 
     

For more information on Radicalisation and how to protect children, please visit the NSPCC website here.

 

If a person, child or adult, is at immediate risk, report this to the Police through 999 and follow the school’s child protection procedure where appropriate. 

If it isn’t an emergency, follow your organisation’s procedures. This might include: 

  • Contacting your nominated child protection lead.
  •  Calling the police anti-terrorism hotline on  0800 789 321
  •  Reporting suspicious activity online.  

The Department for Education has a dedicated telephone helpline for schools in England who have non-emergency concerns about extremism: 020 7340 7264. 

 

Notice - Are you worried that a person is at risk of being radicalised into extremism and/or supporting terrorism? 

  • Observe concern, listen to disclosure
  •  Record concern on organisation safeguarding recording form 

Check - Can you find out more? 

  • If your concern is about a child and if appropriate, check the concern with a parent or carer unless it could put the child at further risk of harm 
  • If appropriate speak to the person of concern to better understand the situation 
  • If appropriate find out further contextual information i.e. online activity. 
  • Talk with Prevent Designated Safeguarding Person 

Share - Do you still have concerns after checking?

  • Complete National Referral Form (below) 
  • Remember: Whilst parental consent is NOT needed when making Prevent referrals, transparency with parents is recommended 
  • Consent will be sought if concern is adopted by the Channel Panel 
  • Update your organisation's recording systems 

Prevent Referral Form  

Prevent National Referral Form

Channel Support Programme

Channel is a voluntary, confidential support programme which focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.

Prevent referrals may be passed to a multi-agency Channel panel, which will discuss the individual referred to determine whether they are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism and consider the appropriate support required. A representative from the school or college will be asked to attend the Channel panel to help with this assessment. An individual’s engagement with the programme is entirely voluntary at all stages. For those requiring support an appropriate package is offered based on an assessment of their vulnerability.