British Values and Prevent
Wiltshire Prevent Updates
These, quarterly information sheets will share training opportunities, updates from the multi-agency Wiltshire Prevent Board and Counter Terrorism Policing Southwest, to keep you posted on the latest on Prevent. These updates can be accessed by Wiltshire schools on Right Choice (login required).
Latest Prevent update January 2024: Resources | Page | SLA Online (Prevent updates at bottom of page)
Contact: Preventqueries@wiltshire.gov.uk if you have any questions or suggestions for future updates.
Promoting British Values in education settings
During 2014 the Department for Education published guidance on promoting British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.
In 2022 the Department for Education published new guidance relating to the Prevent duty (updated September 2023) to support designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) working in education settings.
All have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British values of
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
These values were first set out by the government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011 and the Prevent duty for schools and childcare providers (2015).
All schools must have a clear strategy for embedding these values and show how their work with pupils has been effective in doing so, which will be taken into account during Ofsted inspections.
Examples of the understanding and knowledge pupils are expected to learn include:
- an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
- an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
- an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
- an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination
Examples of actions schools can take to promote British Values are to:
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include in suitable parts of the curriculum - as appropriate for the age of pupils - material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain, in contrast to other forms of government in other countries
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ensure all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to, and demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as a school council whose members are voted for by the pupils
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use opportunities such as general or local elections to hold mock elections to promote fundamental British values and provide pupils with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view
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consider the role of extra-curricular activity, including any run directly by pupils, in promoting fundamental British values
There are many opportunities to include elements of British Values in programmes of PSHE education and the EYFS PSED. In fact these values are already embedded in these programmes, but it is important that education settings are clear about how these are demonstrated.
Many publishers, including Jigsaw, map the elements of British Values that are covered by their teaching materials.
Many Wiltshire schools explain this to children through their teaching, assemblies, displays and to parents in the form of a British Values/Prevent web page or leaflet.
From a young age schools and early years settings can help embed these values, which may include providing opportunities for children to: make positive connections and develop friendships with children of their own age, as well as adults; manage their own feelings and behaviour; negotiate and take turns; develop a positive view of themselves; share and respect each others opinions; challenge stereotypes and engage with the wider community.
Keeping children safe in education (DfE, 2023) mentions that school and college staff are particularly important, as they are in a position to
identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare and prevent concerns from escalating.
Useful links
Wiltshire Council Prevent page
Safeguarding Resources - Right Choice
ACT Early UK - for families and communities who might be worried about someone.
Going Too Far? - for teachers, from the London Grid for Learning and the DfE, to explore extremist behaviour
Let's Talk About it website - practical help and guidance to the public in order to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
Safer Internet Centre - how to set up filters on your home internet to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed.
Safer Internet Centre - wider support for parents and carers
Votes for Schools - weekly resources for schools, including around SMSC, British Values and Prevent.
British Values in the Early Years - good practice blog from Pacey.
Media literacy from Guardian Education - Fake or real lessons for students with SEND
NSPCC - guidance on open conversation with children and young people about negotiating online safety
Common Sense Media - (US site) search for guides on a variety of platforms, including how to set up parental controls on devices like Xbox one/iphone etc. You can also search the site for safety reviews on apps, games, and tv shows
Links to other relevant pages on this site
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Local and national resources
Wiltshire Council Prevent factsheet and referral form
Wiltshire and Swindon Prevent Education Sub Group (from 2022)
Wiltshire are looking for designated safeguarding lead representatives to take part in a pan-Wiltshire Prevent education sub group. The group takes place twice yearly (on Microsoft Teams) and will be an opportunity for updates on Prevent, additional training and a forum to ask questions on the key themes seen locally.
If you would like to attend please email: Preventqueries@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Prevent Risk Assessment for Learning Providers
- A self-assessment tool to help schools review their responsibilities under the Prevent duty (DfE, 2022)
- Prevent Risk Assessment and Action Plan (Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, 2021)*
*This document was originally sent to education providers that attended the Wiltshire and Swindon Prevent in Education Event on Wednesday 28th April 2021.
Resources for teaching about radicalisation
educate.against.hate teachers hub (DfE)
Online Prevent training events (DfE)
Free Prevent training for education settings (multiple topics and dates)
Prevent E-Learning (HM Government)
This free training offers an introduction to the Prevent duty, and explains how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves.
Free e-learning from the Home Office on Channel awareness
Free local online training
The Wiltshire Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP) deliver a half day training course on Microsoft Teams for Wiltshire professionals on ‘Radicalisation and Extremism’, from 9.30am until 12.30pm.
Available dates are shown below:
21st November 2023
To book, please visit the SVPP’s learning hub here
Understanding and Preventing Radicalisation – further information and booking details
The course is run by Wiltshire Council Public Health.
Sessions will cover an introduction to:
- Prevent and the Channel programme
- How professionals can recognise risk factors and indicators of radicalisation
- An understanding of the support available for vulnerable individuals
- Risk of radicalisation in relation to COVID-19
This course will run 4 times a year and is targeted at professionals working with vulnerable individuals of all ages, who may be in a position to identify vulnerability to radicalisation.
Audit tools for schools
- Promoting and Evidencing British Values (Wiltshire Council)
Schools can use this grid as a vehicle for gathering, auditing and presenting what they do in a format that fits with the DfE guidance on requirements.
Online Safety for Parents and Teachers
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