Guidance

The Prevent duty: an introduction for those with safeguarding responsibilities

Updated 7 September 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-prevent-duty-safeguarding-learners-vulnerable-to-radicalisation/the-prevent-duty-an-introduction-for-those-with-safeguarding-responsibilities

The Prevent duty requires all education providers ‘to help prevent the risk of people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism’. This includes safeguarding learners from extremist ideologies and radicalisation.

Most importantly, providers should consider the needs of children, young people and adult learners at each stage of the safeguarding process. Providers should consider radicalisation concerns in line with their existing safeguarding processes, skills and experience.

Managing radicalisation and extremism safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding learners who are susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism depends on effective partnership.

To comply with the Prevent duty, schools, colleges and further education independent training providers must show evidence of:

  • productive co-operation, in particular with local Prevent staff, the police and local authorities
  • co-ordination through existing multi-agency forums

Each local authority has its own referral routes for safeguarding learners from radicalisation and extremism. Effective partnerships will ensure that you understand these processes.

Immediate steps to take

Find out your Prevent referral process in your local authority.

Contact and build partnerships with your:

  • local authority Prevent lead
  • local authority Prevent education officer (if you have one)
  • DfE regional Prevent coordinator
  • local authority children or adult services
  • safeguarding children partnership
  • local policing team (search on your local police website)

Contact partners to understand the local risk and threats in your area.

Make sure you understand what radicalisation means and why learners may be susceptible to being drawn into terrorism. For more information, read ‘how children, young people and adult learners become susceptible to radicalisation’ in understanding and identifying radicalisation in your educational setting.

Make sure you know how to get advice from a wide range of professionals in children’s social care. Find out how to ask for support from your local Prevent teams or the police when you need it.

Make sure you’re familiar with the support available for someone at risk of radicalisation. For more information, read managing the risk of radicalisation in your educational setting.

Think about what support your setting can give to a learner who is susceptible to radicalisation into terrorism.

Think about how your curriculum can build resilience to radicalisation for all learners.

Staff responsibilities in relation to the Prevent duty

All staff should look out for concerning changes in behaviour and report them to the designated safeguarding lead (DSL).

Behaviours that might cause concern

Any concerning changes in behaviour may indicate a safeguarding concern. These changes can be emotional, verbal or physical.

A learner may be vulnerable in certain ways that could make them more susceptible to a range of harms. These could include sexual exploitation, extremism and radicalisation, or serious violence.

For more information, read understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in your educational setting.

How to raise concerns

If staff have any concerns about a learner’s welfare, they should speak to the DSL immediately. All staff should refer to their setting’s safeguarding procedures.

Staff should know about:

Staff in further education (FE) should know about the Prevent for further education and training:

For more information, staff should speak to the DSL.

How to report extremism

If you need to report extremism concerns about an adult working in a school, college or organisation that works with children, young people or adult learners, you should:

  • contact your local authority designated officer (LADO) through your local safeguarding partnership or local authority
  • submit the details at report extremism in education

Online training for Prevent awareness

Online courses on Prevent awareness include:

For more information about available training, contact your local authority.

Resources for teachers and school leaders

You can get more guidance, resources and practical advice from:

Back to top