Early Years providers are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty (Home Office, 2016). At Rose Buddies Childcare we take Safeguarding very seriously, therefore we ensure that we adhere to and achieve the Prevent Duty we will:

Within our environment we will demonstrate strong British Values;

❖ Democracy

❖ Rule of Law

❖ Individual Liberty

❖ Mutual respect and tolerance of those with differing faiths and beliefs

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Within these guidelines we will be helping children to become compassionate, considerate adults. They will form part of a fair and equal society. We will demonstrate these values through the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Through this policy and the procedures, we will bring equality, behaviour, safeguarding and British Values that the Prevent Duty is consistent with.

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We provide compulsory ‘Prevent Duty’ Training delivered by our online training provider (NoodleNow). Part of this training will enable staff to identify children who may be at risk of radicalization. All staff files contain signed receipt slips to show they have read and understood and are working under the Prevent Duty & British Values Policy. Staff performance reviews and class inspections include assessment of staff understanding of Prevent and British Values including signs to look for within each age group.

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We believe as a nursery and out of school clubs provider we serve arguably the most vulnerable and impressionable members of society. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) accordingly states clear duties on providers to keep children safe and promote their welfare. At Rose Buddies Childcare we place a high emphasis on the Prime Areas of Learning including Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED). Rose Buddies Childcare practitioners promote and teach British Values in an age appropriate way and ensure children learn right from wrong, mix and share with other children and value other’s views, know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and challenge negative attitudes and stereotypes.

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The EYFS makes clear that to protect children in our care, providers must be alert to any safeguarding and child protection issues in the child’s life at home or elsewhere (paragraph 3.7 EYFS, 2017). Rose Buddies Childcare promise to take action to protect children from harm and should be alert to harmful behaviour by other adults in the child’s life (see Safeguarding Policy). This policy should be read in conjuction with ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2017 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2) and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ 2016 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2)

                                                                                                        

We will build the children’s resilience to radicalization by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views (the statutory framework for the EYFS sets standards for learning, development and care for children from 0-5, thereby assisting their personal, social and emotional development and understanding of the world). In Out of School Clubs British Values are promoted through daily activities and golden rules created by the children.

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The British Values and Prevent Duty relate to the Equality Act 2010, as the Organisations that perform ‘public functions’ (such as Monarchs offering the Free Entitlement) are also covered by these duties to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation

• advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic, and those who do not

• foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic, and those who do not.

(see Equalities Policy)

We will assess the risk, by means of a formal risk assessment, of children being drawn into terrorism, including support for extremist ideas that are part of terrorist ideology (see Prevent Duty & British Values Risk Assessment at the end of this policy)

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We will ensure that our staff understands the risks so that they can respond in an appropriate and proportionate way.

We will be aware of the online risk of radicalization through the use of social media and the internet.

As with managing other safeguarding risks, our staff will be alert to changes in children’s behaviour that could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection (children at risk of radicalization may display different signs or seek to hide their views). The Key Person approach means we already know our key children well and so we will notice any changes in behaviour, demeanour or personality quickly.

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The key person approach and our parent partnerships means that we already have a rapport with our families so we will notice any change in behaviour, demeanour or personality quickly.

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We will work in partnership with our LSCB, Thurrock Council and Home Office Documents for guidance and support

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We will build up an effective engagement with parents/carers and families. (This is important as they are in a key position to spot signs of radicalization)

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We will ensure that any resources used in the nursery are age appropriate for the children in our care and that our staff have the knowledge and confidence to use the resources effectively

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This Policy is intended to serve as guidance for practitioners to recognise the signs of those who are at risk and also to inform parents of our legal requirement to put this policy into operation.

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Staff Responsibilities

All practitioners must be able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

• There is no single way of identifying an individual, who is likely to be susceptible to a terrorist ideology, but staff should be alert to changes in children’s behaviour, including even very young children, which could indicate they may be in need of help or protection.

• These behaviours can be evident during circle time, role-play activities and key person times. Key Person times is a good time for children to make disclosures as this is the period that children are closest to their key persons.

• People from any walks of life can be drawn into radicalisation and not necessarily from a particular religion or ethnicity. Terrorism is not promoted by any religion. The Prevent Duty does not require childcare providers to carry out unnecessary intrusion into family life but we are required to take action when observe behaviour of concern.

• There are certain terminology used by Muslim families such as, Inshallah, alhumdillah, marshallah, allah ho akbar. These phrases are not an indication of any form of radicalisation. People dress codes like hijabs, nikabs, abayas and jilbabs are not indicative factors that they are at risk of being radicalised. Cultivating British Values is the best way to help children resist extremist views or challenge views such as creationism is to teach them to think critically and become independent learners, which is fundamental to the Characteristics of Effective Learning and Teaching embedded in the EYFS.

• We endeavour to support our children through the EYFS by providing playful learning opportunities to help them develop positive diverse and communal identities, as well as their well-being, their empathy and emotional literacy, while continuing to take action to eradicate inequalities, bullying, discrimination, exclusion, aggression and violence; all of which fosters and secures, children’s pro-social behaviours and responsible citizenship and real sense of belonging.

• Staff will actively look for changes in parents / carers behaviours in which any causes for concern will also be reported following Safeguarding procedures. 

 

What to do if you suspect that children are at the risk of radicalisation:

Follow Rose Buddies Childcare Safeguarding Procedures.

 

The Safeguarding Designated officer can also contact the local police force or dial 101 (the non-emergency number). They will then talk in confidence about the concerns and help to access support and advice. The Department for Education has dedicated a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable staff to raise concerns relating to extremism directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk 

Please note that the helpline is not intended for use in emergency situations, such as a child being at immediate risk of harm or a security incident, in which case the normal emergency procedures should be followed.

Thurrock ‘Prevent Lead’ Person and further guidance for support can be found here http://www.escb.co.uk/Portals/67/SET%20PREVENT%20policy-guidance%20v4.pdf

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