1 Principles of Prevent Policy
1.1 Introduction
Steve Willis Training Centres (SWT) recognises and is committed to our responsibility for providing a safe and secure environment for everyone training with us.
Staff, managers, and directors know that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, whatever their role in relation to trainees enrolled with us.
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty on our organisation to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. Preventing Extremism and Radicalisation is one element within our wider Safeguarding arrangements, detailed in a separate policy.
This policy has been developed to reflect the Prevent agenda and have regard for Prevent Duty Guidance for FE (England & Wales).
DfE Guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024’ and ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023’.
1.2 Definitions
The following is the accepted Government definition of extremism:
‘Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs; and/or calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas’.
Steve Willis Training Centres has adopted this definition in relation to this policy and our centres and staff do not tolerate extremist views of any kind from any source.
1.3 Prevent and our Apprenticeship Training
Extremists (of all types) seek to develop destructive relationships between different communities and groups through division, fear and mistrust of others based on ignorance or prejudice.
We aim to create a safe environment for apprentices to explore controversial issues, supported by apprenticeship trainers/assessors.
Within our learning environments we equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking, to challenge the views of others – in particular those of extremism. We also recognise that if we fail to challenge extremist views, we are failing to protect apprentices.
Every apprentice at the centre takes part in learning activity which helps them understand and become tolerant of difference and diversity. Individuals feel valued and minorities or minority views are not marginalised.
2 Prevent in Action
2.1 Actions for Centres and Staff
Steve Willis Training Centres and its staff will:
• Ensure that the ‘risk’ of extremist activity and radicalisation at SWT is assessed and an action plan developed to ensure all staff and governors are aware of the continuing threat of terrorist attacks. As well as ensuring that staff are appropriately trained, specified authorities should understand their risks regarding radicalisation. Conducting a risk assessment will help to build understanding of national, regional, and local risks, and will help to tailor approaches and manage risk accordingly.
• Promote British Values
• Support young people who may be vulnerable to extremist influences by providing a safe place for them to talk and where appropriate seek guidance from external organisations – see below
• Recognise and respond to disclosures about exposure to extremist actions, views, or materials of others whether within our outside of the centre
• Report anyone voicing opinions drawn from extremist ideologies and narratives, using extremist or ‘hate’ terms to exclude others or incite violence, attempting to impose extremist views or practices on others.
• Recognise and challenge intolerance of difference, whether secular or religious, or in a wider sense in line with our Equalities Policy based on other protected characteristics
• Report anyone accessing extremist material online, including through social networking sites. Our contractor Boundary IT services manages all ICT issues and reports on inappropriate sites being accessed.
• Liaise with DfE Prevent Co-ordinator to understand local risks and threats that may impact on or influence learners and ensure that staff are also made aware.
Any prejudice, discrimination or extremist views, including derogatory language, displayed by apprentices, staff or employers is always challenged and where appropriate dealt with in accordance with our Disciplinary Policies for Apprentices and Staff.
2.2 Guest Speakers
Steve Willis Training will vet guest speakers before they have contact with learners and will monitor their delivery to ensure that materials and resources, or conversations, are not promoting radicalisation or extremism. Curriculum Leaders maintain the list of guest speakers. Risk assessments will be completed as required.
2.3 Staff Training
All staff undertake ‘PREVENT’ training, starting with the Home Office eLearning module.
Prevent Duty Training – GOV.UK
This will then be updated regularly with relevant whole team CPD activity – or in response to identified need. The updated online learning module should be repeated every 3 years.
2.4 IT Usage
SWT’s IT partner, Boundary IT, have put various control measures in place to prevent access, via the internet or SWT equipment, to inappropriate web sites. Access is monitored by Boundary IT on an ongoing basis with any breaches or deviations notified to the Managing Director (who would inform the DSL).
Control measures include:
• All SWT computers (running a Windows operating system) have ESET web filtering installed.
• The guest network is controlled and filtered through Draytek & Cisco routers.
• The SWT network blocks web traffic on a keyword web filter rule and only allows requested sites to be whitelisted.
• The guest network password is changed monthly.
• Staff lock PC’s when they are unattended (desk-based PC’s & laptops auto- lock when left unattended as an additional control measure).
• Our Chrome Books can only access the internet via our Draytek & Cisco routers.
• Firewalls are in place and network traffic is constantly monitored in real time by Boundary IT.
2.5 Raising Concerns
Where anyone has concerns about extremism or radicalisation, the DSL is the first point of call and acts as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC); alternatively, local police contacts’ details are displayed in the centres. The process will vary, but when a concern is identified, the ‘notice, check, share’ procedure should be applied as outlined in the Prevent duty GOV.UK awareness course. If required to do so, the DSL should use the Prevent national referral form.
2.6 External Support and Guidance
With Centres in two local authority areas, we are also mindful of any locally agreed procedures and contacts for advice:
Department for Education Prevent Co-Ordinator for Southeast – Helene Morris: Helene.morris@education.gov.uk
Local Authority Contacts
West Sussex Safeguarding Children Board: 0330 222 7799
Brighton & Hove Local Safeguarding Children Board: 01273 292379
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Board: 01962 876355
Hampshire PREVENT Partnership Board
Police Prevent Contacts
Sussex Police Prevent: prevent@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Hampshire Constabulary: Prevent – Hampshire Police