All schools and colleges are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the CTSA 2015), in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to stop people from supporting terrorism or becoming a terrorist”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty. The Prevent duty should be seen as part of schools’ and colleges’ wider safeguarding obligations.

Prevent is part of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.

The purpose of Prevent is at its heart to safeguard and support vulnerable people to stop them from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Prevent has three specific objectives:

1. Tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism.

2. Safeguard and support those most at risk from radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering support.

3. Enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.

The guidance below explains the importance and relevance of Prevent, Channel and Counter-Extremism efforts to parents and carers of young people.