Prevent education update 2026/27
9 March 2026
Following recent Home Office communications and our updated Kent and Medway Prevent Grant Agreement, we are sharing an update on potential changes to Prevent education delivery for 2026/27.
Kent County Council and Medway Unitary Authority remain assessed as areas of higher relative risk from radicalisation, and dedicated Prevent funding will continue. However, due to a reduction in the national Prevent budget, local funding has been reduced. As a result, the Kent and Medway Prevent team may lose our two Prevent Education Officer posts and will have entered a formal consultation process. We will keep education settings updated as this progresses.
What remains the same:
- The Prevent Duty remains a statutory responsibility for education settings and local authorities.
- Prevent continues to sit within safeguarding practice, with collaboration across education, local authorities, police, DfE Regional Prevent Coordinators and safeguarding partners.
- The DfE will continue to support risk‑based, data‑led Prevent delivery, including access to guidance, training and resources.
Prevent support for education settings in 2026/27
The Kent and Medway Prevent team will prioritise:
- Clear communication between education settings and the DfE
- Sharing updates, training and resources across all education settings
- Risk‑based, case‑by‑case advice on concerns, referrals and training needs
- Strong multi‑agency working to support statutory Prevent duties.
Prevent information, updates and training will continue to be available through:
- Multi‑Agency Training - Kent Safeguarding Children Multi‑Agency Partnership
- Prevent Resources - Kelsi
We will continue to share newsletters and remain your local Prevent contact.
Recommended resources:
- Pol‑Ed: A Positive Force in Education - free, teacher‑led resources (including Prevent materials):
- Home Office Prevent training portal (local Kent and Medway context) - email prevent@kent.gov.uk
- Key principles of Prevent are now available on GOV.UK
DfE Prevent support and links:
- DfE Prevent Policy and Delivery Unit (PPDU) events
- DfE Prevent Education South East newsletter sign‑up
- Educate Against Hate
- Prevent duty risk assessment templates
- Regional Prevent Education Coordinators
- Prevent duty training (GOV.UK)
If you have any questions, please contact the Kent and Medway Prevent Team by emailing prevent@kent.gov.uk.
Thank you for your continued commitment to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable learners across Kent and Medway.