There are a number of behaviours which may indicate a child is at risk of being radicalised or exposed to extreme views. These include:

Indicators of an identity crisis

·       Distancing themselves from their cultural/religious heritage

·       Uncomfortable with their place in society

·       Changing style of dress or personal experience to accord with the group

·       Conversation increasingly focussed on a particular (potentially extremist) ideology

·       Possession of materials or symbols associated with an extremist cause

·       Day-to-day behaviour becoming increasingly centred on an extremist ideology, group or cause

·       Attempts to recruit others to the group/cause

·       Communications with others that suggests identification with a group, cause or ideology

Indicators of a personal crisis

·       Family tensions

·       A sense of isolation

·       Low self-esteem

·       Disassociation from existing friendship groups

·       Loss of interest in activities which they previously engaged with

·       Searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging

Indicators of vulnerability through personal circumstances

·       Migration

·       Local community tensions

·       Events affecting their country or region of origin

·       Alienation from UK values

·       A sense of grievance triggered by personal experience of racism or discrimination

Indicators of vulnerability through unmet aspirations

·       Perceptions of injustice

·       Feelings of failure

·       Rejection of civic life

Other indicators:

·       Using derogatory language about a particular group

·       Inappropriate forms of address

·       Possession of prejudice related material

·       Property damage

·       Refusal to cooperate with teachers’/adults’ requests

·       Condoning or supporting engagement with extremist ideologies or groups

·       Condoning or supporting violence including physical or verbal assault

·       Spending increasing time in the company of other suspected extremist

·       Prejudicial provocative behaviour, ridicule or name calling

Risk Assessment:

We will carry out a risk assessment to identify any factors that may make children and young people under the age of 18 vulnerable to radicalization or extremism. We will consider factors such as their social background, home environment, online activity, and any other relevant factors. The risk assessment will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains up-to-date.

Training and Awareness:

We will ensure that all staff members receive training on the prevent policy and their role in preventing radicalization and extremism. This will include training on how to identify and respond to any concerns related to radicalization or extremism.

Recruitment:

We ensure that the staff we appoint to the school are suitable, our recruitment procedures are rigorous, and we follow the statutory guidance. Vetting and barring checks are undertaken on relevant people, including Local Governors and volunteers. (See Safer Recruitment Policy).

Visitors and the use of school premises:

If any member of staff wishes to invite a visitor in the school, they must first gain approval from the Headteacher. All visitors will be subject to safeguarding checks (including DBS checks if appropriate) and photo identification. Children are NEVER left unsupervised with unvetted people, and external visitors, regardless of safeguarding check outcomes, will be monitored or supervised by school staff.

Upon arriving at the school, all visitors including contractors, will read the child protection and safeguarding guidance and be made aware of who the DSLs is/are and how to report any concerns which they may experience.

Online Safety:

We will ensure that children and young people under the age of 18 are safe online by implementing appropriate filters and monitoring systems to prevent access to extremist material. We will also provide training to children and young people on how to stay safe online and how to report any concerns.

Staff training:

The Headteacher and DSL will attend WRAP/Prevent training as part of the planned training cycle. This training is cascaded to all staff via the DSL or through the Local Authority Prevent Officer.

Through this face-to-face training we will ensure that our staff are fully aware of:

·       which pupils are likely to be vulnerable to or at risk of radicalisation, extremism or terrorism

·       the threats, risks and vulnerabilities that are linked to radicalisation

·       the process of radicalisation and how this might be identified early on

·       aware of how we can provide support as a school to ensure that our children are resilient and able to resist involvement in radical or extreme activities.

Reporting Concerns:

We encourage all staff members to report any concerns related to radicalization or extremism to the designated safeguarding lead or a senior member of staff. Any concerns will be taken seriously and investigated promptly and thoroughly. We will also ensure that appropriate support is provided to any children or young people who may be affected.

Conclusion:

OMA takes its responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 very seriously. We are committed to preventing radicalization and extremism and will ensure that all staff members are trained to identify and respond to any concerns. This prevent policy will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains relevant and effective.

Dealing with referrals

We are aware of the potential indicating factors that a child is vulnerable to being radicalised or exposed to extreme views, including peer pressure, influence from other people or the internet, bullying, crime and anti-social behaviour, family tensions, race/hate crime, lack of self-esteem or identity, prejudicial behaviour and personal or political grievances.

In the event of prejudicial behaviour, the following system will be followed:

·       All incidents of prejudicial behaviour will be reported onto CPOMS which will be picked up by the Safeguarding team who will report to the DSL.

·       All incidents will be fully investigated and recorded in line with the Behaviour Policy and records will

be kept in line with procedures for any other safeguarding incident.

·       All incidents will follow the PREVENT procedures laid out in Appendix 2.

·       Where a concern has been reported but the Head/DSL concludes that there is a miscommunication or misunderstanding, school will follow the Behaviour Policy, document the incident on the school’s safeguarding recording system and monitor the situation.

·       Where the incident is found to be racial, school staff will follow the Behaviour Policy and

parents/carers will be contacted. The incident will be discussed in detail, aiming to identify motivating factors, any changes in circumstances at home, parental views of the incident. If at this point it is assessed that there is more to it as a result of conversing with the parent/carer, it might warrant a further referral. A note of this meeting is kept alongside the initial referral in the Safeguarding folder.

·       The Headteacher and DSL will follow-up any referrals after the incident to assess whether there is a

change in behaviour and/or attitude and all support required has been offered. A further meeting with parents would be held if there is not a significant positive change in behaviour.

·       NB Where the incident is judged to be showing evidence of radicalisation or extremism, refer

directly to the Local Authority PREVENT Officer. It might be that the family/pupil/student is already under investigation and part of a live case. School conversing with parents might severely jeopardise the case. They are in the best place to decide how to follow it up. The PREVENT Officer might request the school to follow up at this point.

All contact details are:

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for this school is: Miss Laima Khan email: [email protected]

The Local Authority PREVENT contact is: Sarah Varnom

They can be reached on: [email protected]