British Values and Prevent
Wiltshire Prevent Updates
These, quarterly information sheets will share training opportunities, updates from the multi-agency Wiltshire Prevent Board and Counter Terrorism Policing Southwest, to keep you posted on the latest on Prevent. These updates can be accessed by Wiltshire schools on Right Choice (login maybe required) from the Safeguarding Team.
Contact: Preventqueries@wiltshire.gov.uk if you have any questions or suggestions for future updates.
Promoting British Values in education settings
The Department for Education has published guidance on promoting British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.
Also the Department for Education published new guidance relating to the Prevent duty to support designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) working in education settings.
All have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British values of
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
These values were first set out by the government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011 and the Prevent duty for schools and childcare providers (2015).
All schools must have a clear strategy for embedding these values and show how their work with pupils has been effective in doing so, which will be taken into account during Ofsted inspections.
Examples of the understanding and knowledge pupils are expected to learn include:
- an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
- an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
- an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
- an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination
Examples of actions schools can take to promote British Values are to:
-
include in suitable parts of the curriculum - as appropriate for the age of pupils - material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain, in contrast to other forms of government in other countries
-
ensure all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to, and demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as a school council whose members are voted for by the pupils
-
use opportunities such as general or local elections to hold mock elections to promote fundamental British values and provide pupils with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view
-
consider the role of extra-curricular activity, including any run directly by pupils, in promoting fundamental British values
There are many opportunities to include elements of British Values in programmes of PSHE education and the EYFS PSED. In fact these values are already embedded in these programmes, but it is important that education settings are clear about how these are demonstrated.
Many Wiltshire schools explain this to children through their teaching, assemblies, displays and to parents in the form of a British Values/Prevent web page or leaflet.
From a young age schools and early years settings can help embed these values, which may include providing opportunities for children to: make positive connections and develop friendships with children of their own age, as well as adults; manage their own feelings and behaviour; negotiate and take turns; develop a positive view of themselves; share and respect each others opinions; challenge stereotypes and engage with the wider community.
Keeping children safe in education mentions that school and college staff are particularly important, as they are in a position to
identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare and prevent concerns from escalating.
Useful links
Wiltshire Council Prevent page
Get help for radicalisation concerns - Gov.uk (also see local version of Refferal form)
Safeguarding Resources - Right Choice
ACT Early UK - for families and communities who might be worried about someone.
Going Too Far? - for teachers, from the London Grid for Learning and the DfE, to explore extremist behaviour
Safer Internet Centre - how to set up filters on your home internet to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed.
Safer Internet Centre - wider support for parents and carers
Votes for Schools - weekly resources for schools, including around SMSC, British Values and Prevent.
Media literacy from Guardian Education - Fake or real lessons for students with SEND
NSPCC - guidance on open conversation with children and young people about negotiating online safety
Common Sense Media - (US site) search for guides on a variety of platforms, including how to set up parental controls on devices like Xbox one/iphone etc. You can also search the site for safety reviews on apps, games, and tv shows
Resources for teaching about radicalisation
educate.against.hate teachers hub (DfE)
British Values resource pack from Educate Against Hate
Links to other relevant pages on this site
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
More Local and national resources
Wiltshire Council Prevent factsheet
Prevent Referral form
Wiltshire schools should use this localised version of the Nataional Prevent Referral form.
Prevent Risk Self Assessments for Learning Providers
In mid 2024 the DfE updated their self-assessment toolkits in line with the refreshed Prevent Duty Guidance and includes updated “Further Support” links in a tab on the downloadable Excel spreadsheet.
The new versions of the Schools & FE Toolkits now available on Educate Against Hate (no longer on GOV.UK) – links below.
The FE toolkit includes a completely new “Further Support” links tab which was included in the previous FE version but the links are specific to FE & not just a lift from the schools version.
Please note the toolkit is not mandatory and is intended to support you assess how effective you have embedded the Prevent Duty responsibilities & identify areas for development
It does NOT replace the requirement to complete a Prevent risk assessment & action. Templates for which can be found here Prevent duty: risk assessment templates - GOV.UK
Online Prevent training events (DfE)
The DfE continue to deliver training sessions aimed at designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) and school governors to support them in understanding the Prevent Duty and their safeguarding responsibilities in protecting young people from radicalisation and extremism.
Following its successful roll out, two further training packages have been launched for independent schools and Early Years Foundation practitioners.
Full dates and details can be found here Regional Prevent education co-ordinators - GOV.UK
Sitting outside of the above offer are sessions on Prevent induction/refresher, an introduction to incels, online platforms and extremist content session, and a gaming and extremism session. Dates and booking details can be found here DfE London RPEC Training Links | Linktree
Prevent E-Learning (HM Government)
This free training offers an introduction to the Prevent duty, and explains how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves.
Free e-learning from the Home Office on Channel awareness
Free local online training
In line with the Wiltshire Prevent Training Strategy for statutory partners under the Prevent Duty, the Wiltshire Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP) are offering a variety of training sessions for Wiltshire professionals as part of the tiered strategy. Topics include;
- Prevent Awareness
- An Overview of Extremist Ideologies
- Emerging Ideologies
- Antisemitism
- Islamist Extremist ideology
- Extreme Right-wing Ideology
To book, please visit the SVPP’s learning hub Wiltshire Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP) - Courses
These courses have been created by the Home Office, and delivered by Wiltshire Council Community Safety, to upskill professionals in addition to the pre-existing online training.
Please note that in order to attend any of the Extremist Ideology sessions, you will first have had to attend and complete the Prevent Awareness session. A variety of dates are scheduled throughout the year.
Prevent Awareness course description
This course has been designed to help learners understand what may make people susceptible to radicalisation and understand more about local Prevent priorities.
This course aims to provide learners with understanding of:
- What Prevent is
- Why it is important
- How Prevent applies to your role
- How to identify the emotions and behaviours that might make someone susceptible to radicalisation
- How to apply the ‘notice, check, share’ procedure
- Risks in your local areas
- Knowing what to do where there are concerns
- And, your local referral pathway, to make high-quality relevant referrals
All Extremist Ideology course description
This training focuses on extreme ideologies and how they manifest, supporting frontline practitioners in identifying individuals who may be at risk of terrorism or supporting terrorism.
Each of the modules aim to provide you with an in-depth understanding of:
- Definitions of the ideologies
- How the ideology is underpinned by conspiracy fantasies
- How to identify the characteristics of an ideology
- The history and evolution of the ideology
- How to recognise contemporary manifestations of ideology
- Analysing how the ideology motivates terrorism
- How to make informed judgements on whether an individual expressing ideology should be referred to Prevent
Online Safety for Parents and Teachers
(Click image below)
