We released a briefing today, The Prevent Strategy in early years education.

The Government’s Prevent Strategy places a statutory obligation on teachers and educators, without any prior background in counter-terrorism, to identify and report students who express so-called extremist views.

This briefing, which was sent to all Labour MPs, examines the efficacy of Prevent and highlights the lack of consistent training provided to education professionals. It also argues that since its inception the Prevent strategy has risked encouraging an atmosphere of distrust and discrimination within our schools.

LCHR are supporting Private Members’ Bill, ‘Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Amendment) Bill’ sponsored by Conservative MP Lucy Allan. The bill provides an exemption for teachers, carers and nursery staff working in primary schools and early years education from the statutory requirement of Prevent. The second reading of the bill will take place on 24th March 2017 and we are asking Labour MPs to attend the debate and support the amendment.