Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism
Statement of Practice
2015

Thispolicyshouldberead withthefollowingpolicies;

  • SafeguardingChildProtectionPolicy
  • EqualityPolicy
  • Anti-BullyingPolicy
  • PositiveBehaviourManagementPolicy
  • E-SafetyPolicy
  • PREVENTStrategyHMGov
  • KeepingChildrenSafeinEducationDfE2014

1. Introduction:

Haslam Park PrimarySchoolisfully committedto safeguardingand promotingthewelfareof all itspupils.Every member of staffrecognisesthat safeguarding against radicalisationand extremism is no different to safeguarding against any other vulnerability in today’s society.TheTacklingExtremismandRadicalisationPolicy setsout our beliefs, strategies and procedurestoprotectvulnerableindividualsfrombeingradicalised or exposedto extremist views, by identifying whothey areandpromptly providing themwithsupport.

2.Links to other Policies

Haslam Park PrimarySchoolTacklingExtremism andRadicalisationPolicylinkstothe following schoolpolicies:

  • ChildProtection and Safeguarding
  • Equality Policy
  • Anti-bullying Policy
  • Positive Behaviour Management Policy
  • E-Safety Policy.

Thefollowing national guidelinesshouldalsobe read when workingwiththis policy:

  • PREVENTStrategyHMGovernment
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education DfE2014

3. Aims and Principles

Haslam ParkPrimarySchoolTacklingExtremismandRadicalisationPolicyisintendedto provideaframeworkfor dealing with issuesrelatingtovulnerability,radicalisationand exposuretoextremeviews.Werecognisethat weare wellplacedtobeabletoidentify safeguardingissuesandthispolicyclearlysetsouthowtheschoolwilldealwith such incidentsand identifieshowthecurriculumand ethosunderpins our actions.

The objectivesarethat:

  • Allgovernors,teachers,teachingassistantsandnon-teachingstaffwillhavean understandingof whatradicalisationand extremismareisand why weneed tobe vigilant in school.
  • Allgovernors,teachers,teachingassistantsandnon-teachingstaffwillknowwhat theschoolpolicyis ontacklingextremismand radicalisationand willfollow the policy guidanceswiftly when issuesarise.
  • Allpupilswillunderstandthedangersofradicalisationandexposuretoextremist views;buildingresilienceagainsttheseand knowing whattodoiftheyexperience them.
  • All parents/carersand pupils will knowthat the school haspoliciesin placetokeep pupilssafefromharmandthattheschoolregularly reviewsits systemsto ensure they areappropriate andeffective.

Themainaimsofthispolicyaretoensurethatstaffarefullyengagedinbeingvigilant aboutradicalisation;thattheyovercomeprofessionaldisbeliefthatsuchissueswillnot happenhereandensurethatweworkalongsideotherprofessionalbodiesandagencies toensurethat our pupilsare safe fromharm.

4. Definitions and Indicators

Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring ofextremeorfundamentalchangesin political,economic or socialconditions, institutions or habits ofthe mind.

Extremismisdefined as theholding of extremepolitical or religiousviews.

Thereareanumber ofbehaviourswhich may indicatea child is atriskofbeingradicalised or exposed toextremeviews. Theseinclude:

  • Spending increasing timein the company of other suspected extremists.
  • Changing their style of dressor personal appearancetoaccord withthegroup.
  • Day-to-daybehaviourbecomingincreasinglycentredonanextremistideology, group or cause.
  • Lossofinterestinotherfriendsandactivitiesnotassociatedwiththeextremist ideology, group or cause.
  • Possession ofmaterialsorsymbolsassociatedwithan extremist cause.
  • Attemptstorecruit otherstothegroup/cause.
  • Communicationswithothersthatsuggestsidentificationwithagroup,causeor ideology.
  • Using insulting toderogatory namesfor another group.
  • Increaseinprejudice-relatedincidentscommittedbythatperson–thesemay include;
  1. physical or verbal assault
  2. provocativebehaviour
  3. damagetoproperty
  4. derogatory name calling
  5. possessionof prejudice-related materials
  6. prejudicerelated ridicule or namecalling
  7. inappropriate forms ofaddress
  8. refusal toco-operate
  9. attemptsto recruit to prejudice-related organisations
  10. condoningor supporting violencetowardsothers.

5. Procedures for Referrals

Although seriousincidentsinvolvingradicalisation havenotoccurredatHaslam ParkPrimary Schooltodate, itisimportantforustobe constantlyvigilantandremain fullyinformed abouttheissueswhichaffectthelocalarea,townandsocietyin which weteach.Staffare reminded tosuspend any ‘professionaldisbelief’thatinstances of radicalisation ‘could not happenhere’andtobe‘professionally inquisitive’whereconcernsarise,referringany concernsthroughtheappropriate channels.

Webelievethat it ispossibletointervenetoprotect people whoarevulnerable.Early interventionisvitalandstaffmustbeawareoftheestablishedprocessesforfrontlineprofessionalsto referconcernsaboutindividualsand/orgroups.Wemusthavethe confidenceto challenge, theconfidenceto interveneandensurethatwehavestrong safeguarding practicesbased on themost up-to-dateguidanceand bestpractise.

TwomembersoftheSeniorLeadershipTeam(SLT)aretrainedasDesignatedLeadersfor ChildProtection and Safeguarding andwill dealswiftlywithany referrals made by staff or with concernsreported by staff.

TheHead Teacherand SLTwilldiscussthemost appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basisand willdecide when areferraltoexternalagenciesisneeded.

Aswith any childprotectionreferral,staffmustbemadeawarethatiftheydonotagree withadecisionnottorefer,theycanmakethereferralthemselves.

6. Governors, Leaders and Staff

TheHeadTeacherandAHT aretheleadersforreferralsrelatingto extremism andradicalisation.In theunlikelyeventthatthe AHTandtheHead Teacherarenotavailable,all staffknowthechannelsby which tomakereferrals.

Staffwillbefullybriefedaboutwhattodoiftheyareconcernedaboutthepossibilityof radicalisationrelatingtoapupil,oriftheyneedtodiscussspecificchildrenwhomthey consider to bevulnerabletoradicalisation or extremist views.

TheSLTwillworkin conjunction with theHead Teacher, Phase Leadersand external agencies todecidethebest courseof action toaddress concernswhich arise.

7. The role of the Curriculum

Ourcurriculumisbroadandbalanced. It promotesrespect,toleranceand diversity.Childrenareencouraged tosharetheirviews andrecognisethattheyareentitledtohavetheirowndifferentbeliefswhichshouldnot beused toinfluenceothers.

OurPSHEprovisionisembeddedacrossthecurriculum,includinginRE.Itdirectsour assembliesandunderpinstheethosoftheschool. Itisrecognisedthatchildrenwithlow aspirationsaremorevulnerabletoradicalisationand thereforewestrivetoequip our pupilswithconfidence, self-belief,respectandtoleranceaswellassettinghighstandards and expectationsfor themselves.

Childrenareregularlytaughtabouthowtostay safewhenusingtheinternetandare encouragedtorecognisethatpeoplearenotalwayswhotheysaytheyareonline.Theyaretaughttoseekadulthelpiftheyareupsetorconcernedaboutanythingtheyreador seeon theinternet.

8. Staff Training

Through INSETopportunitiesin school,wewillensurethat:

  • our staffarefullyawareofthe threats, risksand vulnerabilitiesthat arelinked toradicalisation;
  • areawareof theprocess ofradicalisation andhowthismightbeidentifiedearlyon
  • areawareofhowwecan providesupportasa schooltoensurethatourchildrenareresilientandabletoresist involvement in radical orextremeactivities.

9. Visitors and the use of school premises

9.1 If any member of staffwishestoinviteavisitor in theschool,they mustfirst discuss this with the Headteacher.

Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism November 2015