Hidden Garden Day Nursery and Pre-School

Hidden Garden Day Nursery and Pre-School

Protecting Children from Radicalisation and Extremism Policy (PREVENT)

Hidden Garden is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its children. We recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability.

The threat to the UK from international terrorism is severe. The terrorist threats that we now face are more diverse than ever before, dispersed across a wider geographical area and often in countries without effective governance. We therefore face an unpredictable situation.

Dealing with violent extremism is not new. Throughout history there have been groups prepared to use violence to achieve their aims. A small minority of these seek to radicalise young people with an ideology which justifies the use of violence through a distorted interpretation of a set of values (often associated with a religion).

In line with guidance from the Department for Education (DfE),Hidden Garden has a zero-tolerance acceptance of extremist behaviour and ensures that our care, guidance and curriculum empowers children to reject violent or extremist behaviour.

Whilst it remains very rare for such young children to become involved in extremist activity, young people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views, including via the internet, from an early age. Early intervention is a preferable way of tackling extremism.

Within our setting, we aim to prepare ourchildren to become good citizens of the future. Through our curriculum, we teach pupils love & care for others, respect for all, tolerance, kindness and sharing and how to celebrate diversity. We have adopted the principles and advice found in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2015’ and the 2011 ‘Prevent Strategy’. These are incorporated into our Nursery’s policy on tacklingextremism.

Definition

Extremism can be defined as “holding of extreme opinions: the holding of extreme political or religious views or the taking of extreme actions on the basis of those views”.

Strategies for preventing Extremism

The Office for Security & Counter Terrorism works to counter the threat from terrorism and their work is detailed in the counter terrorism strategy, ‘Contest’. This strategy is based on four areas of work:

• Pursue To stop terrorist attacks

• Prevent To stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism

• Protect To strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack

• Prepare To mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack

Our role, as a setting, is outlined more specifically in the DCSF document ‘Learning together to be safe: A toolkit to help schools contribute to the prevention of violent extremism.’

Aims and Principles

The main aims of this policy statement are to ensure that staff are fully engaged in being vigilant about radicalisation; that they overcome professional disbelief that such issues will not happen here and ensure that we work alongside other professional bodies and agencies to ensure that our Children are safe from harm. The principle objectives are that:

•Children are encouraged to adopt and live out our values. These underpin our approach to developing the key “British Values” of tolerance, respect, understanding, compassion and harmonious living.

•Children are helped to understand the importance of democracy and freedom of speech.

•Children are taught how to keep themselves safe including when using the internet.

•Children’s confidence, wellbeing and resilience is promoted through our planned curriculum.

•Children are supported in making good choices from a very young age, so they understand the impact and consequences of their actions on others.

•Staff demonstrate an understanding of what radicalisation and extremism are and why we need to be vigilant within the setting.

•Primarily our work will be concerned with Prevention.

Procedure for referring concerns

It is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the region in which we work with Children. Staff are reminded to suspend any professional disbelief that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to refer any concerns through the appropriate channels (currently via the Child Protection/ Safeguarding Coordinator or in fear of an imminent Offence being committed, the Police as well as Social Care). This policy is strictly adhered to should issues arise.

This Policy was reviewed on 25/1/18

Victoria Westwell- Owner

Hannah Miles- Manager

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