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Safeguarding, SMSC and Prevent© Diane Hadwen 2015

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Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural EducationSMSC

Recent Government guidance stresses the importance of SMSC. It has raised the profile of safeguarding and the duty on teachers to prevent the grooming and radicalisation of children and young people; keeping them safe from harm.

The DfE states that SMSC has a part to play in preventing all forms of extremism and building resilience to grooming and radicalisation; SMSC should be part of every school’s safeguarding, curricular and extra - curricular provision.

SMSC involves exploring challenging issues and encouraging dialogue, reflection and the making of informed choices. An integral part of educating for a safe, equitable and just society.

It should also uphold British values, encouraging mutual respect and tolerance for all faiths and beliefs and exploring difference, equality and belonging across the curriculum.

3Safeguarding

As teachers we are tasked, not just with teaching children, developing, knowledge and understanding; another major part of our role is to look after and keep children safe, helping them to develop skills and attitudes that help us to live together in an increasingly diverse society.

Safeguarding is about ‘keeping all children safe in education’ and promoting the welfare of children. It is defined by the Government as –

‘Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes’.

DfE (2015) Keeping Children Safe

To do this effectively as teachers we need to know well

‘…… the context in which our children live.’

4Why we have to do this…

We have a moral and legal duty to keep children safe and prepare them for life in a diverse society

The teachers' standards (part two) – state that teachers should uphold fundamental British values and demonstrate mutual respect and tolerance for different faiths and beliefs

Schools in England will be inspected on the measures they employ to protect children from extremism in all its forms, as part of safeguarding policies and procedures

The above and the new guidance for schools on SMSC (November 2014) is in accordance with the Prevent Strategy, which requires schools to address difference, equality and British values across the curriculum.

5British Values ?

Through SMSC we are tasked with exploring British values (although this is not the only purpose of SMSC)

According to the DfE British values are:

“The precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom.”

Democracy The rule of law Individual liberty (freedom of speech) Mutual respect Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

DfE (2014) Promoting Fundamental British

Values as part of SMSC HMSO

6Prevent

With diversity come positive opportunities to share, discover and celebrate; but also the possibility for discord, inequality, marginalisation and misunderstanding.

This can lead to prejudice, aggression and extremism.

The government defines extremism as:

“…. 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.”

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To prevent violent extremism in all its many forms we need

“ … to engage those who might be susceptible …… because they are being marginalised.”

Joe Biden (Vice President of the United States)

Safeguarding, SMSC and mainstreamed Prevent education is about inclusion; challenging stereotypes, recognising and understanding multiple identities, equity, rights, responsibilities and democracy.

It is concerned with the local, national and global.

Who am I? Who are they? Who are we?

8Doing it!

Where should you be able to identify safeguarding SMSC and PREVENT initiatives in school?

Policies, procedures and staffingAudits, training, literature, leadership, governance,

CPDPartnership working – community groups, places of

worship, councils, LEAs, policeThe curriculum ResourcesProjectsTeaching strategies

9Finally ……

Refer to the Safeguarding and Prevent handout for more details and further

reading and guidance.

If in doubt ASK!