Issue - meetings

The Board received a report which informed of the ways in which the Local Authority was currently supporting schools in embedding the Prevent duty and protecting young people from extremism and the risk of radicalisation.  It was noted that this was in response to the Prevent duty provision placed on schools and in support of guidance published in June 2015.

Members were advised that all schools in Halton had received a briefing paper explaining the Prevent agenda as one element of the Government’s Counter Terrorism Strategy, known as CONTEST; details of the briefing paper were outlined in the report. 

Additional support to schools had also been provided through presentations by the local Prevent Officer at headteachers’ meetings advising them of the support and guidance available to them.  It was noted that there was a dedicated Local Authority Officer to Halton Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).

The report went on to outline the details of the guidance and materials provided to schools so far; the work of SACRE and the Channel Partnership, which was a key element of the Prevent strategy.

It was noted that the subject of extremism and radicalisation was a complex safeguarding issue, alongside Child sexual exploitation for example.  Members were advised that two members of the Police and a departmental representative from HBC were included in the membership of the Channel Panel.  Further, they were advised that all schools had been requested to send two representatives to the ‘train the trainer event’, so they could deliver in-house workshops to raise awareness of the Prevent duty.

RESOLVED:   That the Board

1)    Notes the contents of the report;

2)    Notes the resource implications potentially needed to discharge this duty and the need to prepare accordingly; and

3)    Considers any further partnership approach required underneath this duty.