Peter Hills Church of England School

Police have issued new guidance to young people about what to do in the event of a terror attack. If you’re concerned about how a child is feeling following attacks or would like advice on how to talk to your children about terrorism, you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

Talking about terrorism: tips for parents

Children are exposed to news in many ways, and what they see can worry them.
Our advice can help you have a conversation with your child:

• listen carefully to a child’s fears and worries
• offer reassurance and comfort
• avoid complicated and worrying explanations that could be frightening and confusing
• help them find advice and support to understand distressing events and feelings
• children can always contact Childline free and confidentially on the phone and online.

It's also important to address bullying and abuse following the terrorist attacks.

• Some children may feel targeted because of their faith or appearance
  Look for signs of bullying, and make sure that they know they can talk with you about it. Often children might feel scared or embarrassed, so reassure them it’s not their fault that this is happening, and that they can always talk to you or another adult they trust. Alert your child’s school so that they can be aware of the issue.
• Dealing with offensive or unkind comments about a child’s faith or background
  If you think this is happening, it’s important to intervene. Calmly explain that comments like this are not acceptable. Your child should also understand that someone’s beliefs do not make them a terrorist. You could ask them how they think the other child felt, or ask them how they felt when someone said something unkind to them. Explain what you will do next, such as telling your child’s school, and what you expect them to do.
  

Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. Prevent is 1 of the 4 elements of CONTEST, the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The Prevent strategy:

• Responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views;
• Provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support; and
• Works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health) where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to deal with.

  Prevent covers all forms of terrorism and extremism and some aspects of non-violent extremism.

  The Home Office works with local authorities, a wide range of government departments, and community organisations to deliver the Prevent strategy. The police also play a significant role in Prevent, in much the same way as they do when taking a preventative approach to other crimes.

  Prevent uses a range of measures to challenge extremism including:

  • Supporting people who are at risk of being drawn into terrorist or extremist activity through the Channel process, see the What is Channel section to find out more about this
  • Working with and supporting community groups and social enterprise projects who provide services and support to vulnerable people
    

    Prevent is measured locally and nationally to make sure the Prevent programme provides value for money.

    The main aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

    At the heart of Prevent is safeguarding children and adults and providing early intervention to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity.