Prevent Duty

Bridgelea is a Gold “Rights Respecting School.” Children’s rights are at the heart of everything we do to ensure the very best outcomes for all our children. We work closely with our community to ensure that;

Article 29… “Every child has the right to be the best they can be…..” can be realised for all our pupils. We believe in order to do this we must create the best conditions for learning.

• To be safe and feel safe
• To be supported when challenged
• To be protected from harm
• To be informed
• To make good choices
• To take risks in a safe environment
• To ask questions
• To have a voice and be listened to
• To respect their own rights and those of others

Children and young people are vulnerable to a wide range of safeguarding risks, and vulnerability to radicalization needs to be seen in that context.

“Schools can help to protect children from extremist and violent views in the same ways that they help to safeguard children from drugs, gang violence or alcohol. Schools’ work on Prevent needs to be seen in this context.” Prevent Strategy, 2011.

It is of particular importance that we work closely with families to ensure their child’s safety, that they are fully aware of the law and our duties, and ensure an open dialogue between all those that care about our children. We believe it is important to work closely with parents, children, governors and a range of agencies to achieve this.

How does the Children’s Rights Charter support the protection and safeguarding of children?

Article 3

The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect children.

Article 4

Governments must do all they can to make sure every child can enjoy their rights.

Article 6

Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to make sure that children survive and develop to their full potential.

Article 8

Governments must respect every child’s right to a name, a nationality and family ties.

Article 9

Governments must do everything they can to stop children being taken out of their own country illegally or being prevented from returning.

Article 12

Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.

Article 13

Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.

Article 14

Every child has the right to think and believe what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Governments must respect the rights of parents to give their children information about this right.

Article 15

Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights

Article 17

Every child has the right to reliable information from the media. This should be information that children can understand.

Article 19

Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them

Article 29

Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.

Article 30

Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, regardless of whether these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live.

Article 36

Governments must protect children from all other forms of bad treatment.

How do we ensure that everyone protects the rights of the child?

• All staff have had Prevent training.
• All governors have had safeguarding training.
• UNICEF events around ensuring children’s rights are understood by parents.
• Staff are clear on warning signs and role of designated persons.
• DSL and Pastoral team with a wide range of safeguarding training.

Where to next?

• More parental events.
• Develop a safeguarding protocol including Prevent to be agreed by all visitors and volunteers on entry to school.
• Develop materials with “Healthy Schools” to be part of “Growing and Changing” which match developmental understanding and are “rights-respecting"
• More parental events to signpost parents to health professionals, community organisations, community police and local women’s groups as well as mental health services.
• UNICEF events around ensuring children’s rights are understood by parents

Preventing Radicalisation and Violent Extremism 

Bridgelea values the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, expression of beliefs and ideology and tolerance of others which are the core values of our democratic society. However, all rights come with responsibilities and free speech or beliefs designed to manipulate the vulnerable or which advocate harm or hatred towards others will not be tolerated.

If deemed suitable the:

• Safeguarding Lead or Headteacher will then make a referral to Children’s Social Care. The DSL may be asked to complete a Channel Referral and Assessment Form (RAF) in consultation with the nominated lead from the Children’s Services, which is emailed to the Channel Coordinator at Greater Manchester Police
• A Channel Officer will then carry out an extensive risk assessment that aims to identify known risks and additional vulnerabilities. (At no point will the person be created on a criminal records system.)
• Channel Coordinator will then complete a case summary and return it to the nominated lead within the CSC who will coordinate a multi-agency safeguarding meeting with the necessary professionals (including the safeguarding lead from your school) to support the vulnerable individual.
• Channel will assist this process by using its list of key contacts from across the public, voluntary and community sectors to help ensure the right people are brought to the multi-agency meeting

Useful Links below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/380125/MultiAgencyPracticeGuidelinesNov14.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/97976/prevent-strategy-review.pdf

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