Prevent Duty and Fundamental British Values

The Prevent Duty became law back in 2015 and placed a duty on all registered early years providers to have due regard to preventing people including children from being drawn into terrorism. In order to protect children in our care, Jesters must be alert to any reason for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere. Therefore, promoting children’s welfare, including protecting children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism, is seen as part of our wider safeguarding duties.

The fundamental British Values are already implicitly embedded in the Early Years Foundation Stage.  However, since November 2014, childcare providers must now demonstrate how they are ‘actively promoting’ these values.

This requirement goes hand in hand with the legislation introduced in July 2015, which places additional responsibility on Early Years providers to prevent children from becoming radicalised (the Prevent Duty).  At Jesters we are committed to following the Government’s guidelines on promoting the Fundamental British Values and the protocols for preventing radicalisation.

This means encouraging our children to learn about and have opportunities for Democracy, The Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.

These values are already embedded in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Jesters Early Years can demonstrate effectively how these are put into place in our nurseries, pre-school and kids clubs.

To encourage Democracy, children are given opportunities to vote during the day. For example, a children’s show of hands to see what activities are provided, what games or stories to have and for babies, the use of photographs can help them choose their favourite things. We encourage turn-taking, sharing and collaboration and even babies can be modelled to by practitioners; rolling a ball in turn, helping build some bricks, or including them in simple conversations. We create an atmosphere where all opinions are listened to and valued.

To promote Rule of Law we encourage children to take an active part in rule making and to talk about how these can be promoted and why they are needed in Jesters. We help them to learn the consequences of their own and other’s actions. Babies also learn through their routines, beginning to anticipate what comes next in their day and social aspects in their development, for example at mealtimes.

Jesters Practitioners provide opportunities for all children to develop their self-esteem and confidence during everyday routines and activities. For example, taking part in new things that might challenge them, with Practitioners giving praise and encouragement. At Jesters children are encouraged to recognise and understand their emotions through a series of activities and resources and caring support from practitioners. This is important for babies as well as older children particularly as they are developing their key emotions.

Addressing Mutual Respect and Tolerance supports the diversity in our society; we promote sharing and respecting other’s opinions. Jesters uses stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and provide resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural and racial stereotyping. This creates an ethos of inclusivity at the settings.

Our commitment to promoting the Fundamental British Values helps Jesters’ children to become caring, considerate and confident citizens of the future.