Prevent

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Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. Many of the things we do in school to help pupils become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent Strategy.

Supporting children worried about terrorism

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/supporting-children-worried-about-terrorism

Talking about terrorism: tips for parents

Children are exposed to news in many ways, and what they can see can worry them. Our advice can help you have a conversation with your child:

• listen carefully to a child’s fears and worries

• offer reassurance and comfort

• avoid complicated and worrying explanations they could be frightening and confusing

• help them find advice and support to understand distressing events and feelings

• children can always contact Childline free and confidentially on the phone and online.

• it’s also important to address bullying and abuse following terrorist attacks.

• some children my feel targeted because of their faith or appearance.

Look for signs of bullying, and make sure that they know they can talk to you about it. Often children might feel scared of embarrassed, so reassure them it’s not their fault that this is happening an they can always talk to you or another adult they can trust. Alert your child’s school so that they can be aware of the issue.

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Dealing with offensive or unkind comments about a child’s faith or background.

if you think this is happening, it’s important to intervene. calmly explain that comments like this are not acceptable. Your child should also understand that someone’s beliefs do not make them a  terrorist. Explaining that most people are as scare and hurt by the attacks as your child is. You could ask them how they think the other child felt, or ask them how they felt when someone said something unkind to them. Explain what you will do next, such as telling your child’s school, and what you expect the to do.

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Schools and childcare providers are expected to assess the risk of children being drawn into terrorism, including support for extremist ideas that are part of terrorist ideology. This should be based on an understanding of the potential risk in the local area.

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Part of your assessment of risk will include a summary of the local risk within the High Peak. This will support you in identifying any emerging issues locally for your own risk assessment and you can find this in Appendix D Preventing Extremism and Radicalisation in the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.