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'Anti-radicalisation' guidelines for childminders

Published: December 2nd, 2015
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The UK’s largest online directory for childminders and tutors has published guidance on how to prevent the “very young” from being “radicalised at an early age.”
 
In a section entitled “Teaching British Values”, Childcare.co.uk offers advice to those working with very young children on how to comply with the government’s ‘British values’ drive.
 
The website highlights recent changes in Ofsted’s inspection regime and references the government’s Prevent duty:
 
“The intention of this new legislation, linked to the Prevent duty for England and Wales, is that all children including the very young are protected from being radicalised at an early age.”
 
The page goes on to say:
 
“Whether you agree with it or not, Ofsted inspectors are required to make a judgement about how well we deliver a curriculum which includes teaching children about British values – and preparing them for life in modern Britain – so we need to address and show evidence of this in our planning.”


Christmas and Easter ignored

The site has been criticised for neglecting the past and present role of Christianity in British society, and for giving the impression that there is no link between Christian values and genuine ‘British values’.
 
Despite providing examples of how to teach Valentine’s Day and Diwali, however, no mention is made of Easter, and Christmas is only used as a passing example in a list of how to teach the importance of lights in different religions.
 
A diagram labelled “Our British Values” includes headings such as “We are polite”, “We are kind and gentle”, “We eat British foods” and “We celebrate British festivals”. Although the latter section includes the Edinburgh Festival and Notting Hill Carnival, Christmas and Easter are, again, notably absent.


‘Intellectually dishonest’

Andrea Williams commented:
 
“This resource highlights the bankruptcy and confusion that characterises the government’s ‘British values’ drive.
 
“It offers weak platitudes without providing any real basis for them, whilst simultaneously airbrushing out the one thing that could provide a robust foundation, namely the blessing of our Christian heritage.
 
“It is intellectually dishonest to deny Christianity’s huge role in shaping Britain, her values and her institutions.
 
“We should celebrate the freedoms and amazing advances that Christianity has brought to Britain. Airbrushing Christianity out doesn’t prepare children for life in modern Britain, it deceives them.
 
“Suggesting that April Fool’s Day or Bonfire night are more ‘British’ than Christmas or Easter is ridiculous.
 
“This impoverished approach seems ideologically driven. It is vacuous and leaves children with vague platitudes, rather than robust values upheld by a secure foundation.”
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