From 1 July 2015 the Prevent duty became law. This is a duty on all schools and registered early years providers to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism. In order to protect children in your care, you must be alert to any reason for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere. This includes awareness of the expression of extremist views.
What are the British Values?
British values are a set of four values introduced to help keep children safe and promote their welfare – as is the duty of all providers following the EYFS; specifically to counter extremism.
The promotion of British values is firmly embedded in the work that we do at Burrough Green Playgroup.
The four values are
Democracy: making decisions together, for example giving opportunities to develop enquiring minds in an atmosphere where questions are valued.
Rule of law: understanding rules matter as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development for example collaborating with children to create rules and codes of behaviour.
Individual liberty: freedom for all, for example reflecting on their differences and understanding we are free to have different opinions
Mutual respect and tolerance: treat others as you want to be treated, for example sharing and respecting other’s opinions.
It also highlights clearly what is not acceptable, for example, failure to challenge gender stereotypes and routinely segregating girls and boys.
In England, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) accordingly places clear duties on providers to keep children safe and promote their welfare.
What is the Prevent duty?From 1 July 2015, all schools and childcare providers must have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.
The government has defined extremism in the Prevent strategy as: “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British Values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs."
Childcare and Early Years Providers subject to the Prevent duty will be expected to demonstrate activity in the following areas:
- assessing the risk of children being drawn into terrorism.
- demonstrate that they are protecting children and young people from being drawn into terrorism by having robust safeguarding policies.
- ensure that their safeguarding arrangements take into account the policies and procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
- make sure that staff have training that gives them the knowledge and confidence to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism, and to challenge extremist ideas which can be used to legitimise terrorism
- expected to ensure children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet
We follow the Linton Primary School Cluster PREVENT strategy.