The Government’s Prevent Duty Guidance clearly places preventing radicalisation within safeguarding, and with my experience of supporting schools and my college with their understanding of, and compliance with the Duty, it’s clear the education sector rightly sees it as part of its responsibilities.
With any new element adding to the radicalisation mix, it is crucial training is available for the professionals, including identification of signs and indicators of that specific type of abuse.
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is the closest relation to radicalisation in the world of abuse and this, from the NSPCC, is key;
‘Child sexual exploitation is a hidden crime. Young people often trust their abuser and don't understand that they're being abused. They may depend on their abuser or be too scared to tell anyone what's happening.’
Prevention has to come much sooner in the process and, as many professionals agree, this is found in education of peace, community cohesion, diversity, and critical thinking.
Action is needed now to also promote a wider awareness and understanding of cultic abuse to enable the safeguarding profession to recalibrate its efforts to tackle radicalisation. Contact us for support and training, we can help.

What kind of training do staff need?
Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education also refers to the responsibilities on local authorities and other agencies to provide training, as follows:

• Local authorities should ensure that induction training for all staff includes safeguarding and Prevent awareness.
• They should also ensure that refresher child protection training is available to all staff every three years, and to designated staff every year.
• The local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) should provide training in inter-agency working which designated staff should attend.

What local authorities need to do to comply with these requirements is not explicit. The wording – ‘to ensure that suitable training is available’ – does not appear to require local authorities to provide it themselves, though presumably they could. There is also no mention of who is responsible for funding the training.

Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education clarifies the position of further education colleges and independent schools. Similar training is required for their staff but even though the local authority can make similar provision for them, they are allowed to charge for it, and are not obliged to provide it.

We can offer you....

Bespoke safeguarding training for your staff or group. Internet safety and guidance for participants.

Training by a Local Authority Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Officer delivering safeguarding training to staff working in schools or colleges.

Staff in schools and further education are uniquely placed to be someone to turn to for children and young people requiring support and advice, and to help protect them from harm.
Delivery of single-agency induction and refresher training in safeguarding children to the range of people working in schools or FE college.

The content is relevant in all phases - from settings with nursery-age children through to sixth forms and further education colleges. Also useful for volunteers.

Please phone for details on 07800885174.