The place of RE at Langley Mill Church of England Infant School and Nursery is to inform our understanding and celebrate the Christian foundation of our school. It is also to understand and embrace those of all faiths or none. As a Church of England school, RE has a high priority in our curriculum. We know that every child matters as a child of God. We strive to ensure the children of Langley Mill Church of England Infant School and Nursery are equipped with the skills needed to meet the challenges of our ever-changing world and make their own positive contributions to our global society.
Intent
Through carefully considered and structured planning our RE curriculum encourages children to:
- Explore the ‘big’ questions in a safe, caring and nurturing space.
- Understand the impact that faith has on the lifestyles of those with or without beliefs.
- Discover how people of faith and no faith express their beliefs and explain their ideas.
- Gain understanding and tolerance of those with beliefs different to their own.
- Reflect upon and grow their inner feelings, questions, thoughts and experiences
Implementation
RE is taught in clearly identifiable time, we allocate a minimum of 5% of curriculum time for RE in Year 1 and Year 2 (KS1) in order to deliver the aims and expected standards of the agreed syllabus effectively. In nursery, RE is integrated into continuous provision and adult led topic sessions where appropriate. In Reception, we teach one 30-minute adult led RE session per week in addition to implementing some short RE sessions through continuous provision. In Key Stage One, we teach one discrete 60 minute RE lesson per week. Curriculum time for RE is distinct from the time spent on collective worship, although links are made between collective worship and the purposes and themes of RE.
We also include special visits, visitors and RE themed days to complement (but not replace) the regular programme of timetabled lessons. There is a common frontier between RE and such subjects as English and PSHE. However, the times given above are explicitly for the clearly identifiable teaching of RE. Where cross curricular links are used, we ensure that RE objectives are clear.
RE has a vital part to play as part of a broad, balanced and coherent curriculum to which all pupils are entitled. High quality learning experiences in RE are designed using Understanding Christianity alongside the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus. RE achievements are celebrated in school using the subject display board which showcases children’s work.
Three aspects are covered: 1. Believing – Religious beliefs, teachings, sources; questions about meaning, purpose and truth. 2. Expressing – Religious and spiritual forms of expression; questions about identity and diversity. 3. Living – Religious practices and ways of living; questions about values and commitments.
RE in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
RE sits very firmly within the areas of personal, social and emotional development and understanding the world and the children learn through a balance of guided, planned teaching and pursuing their own learning within an enabling environment. Teaching stems from children’s own experience and teachers draw on the religious or spiritual experiences that families bring with them, the children encounter religions and world views through special people, books, times, places and objects and by visiting places of worship.
The children listen to and talk about stories and are introduced to subject specific words and use all their senses to explore beliefs, practices and forms of expression. The children are encouraged to ask questions and reflect on their own feelings and experiences. They are able to use their imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation of and wonder at the world in which they live.
RE in Key Stage One (KS1)
Pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts, they are able to use basic subject specific vocabulary. Pupils are encouraged to raise questions and begin to express their own views in response to the material they learn about and in response to questions about their ideas. They are taught knowledge, skills and understanding through learning about Christians and Muslims or Jewish people. Pupils also encounter other religions and worldviews in thematic units, where appropriate.
Impact
Children make good progress in their RE skills, knowledge and understanding across years, key stages and the whole school.
Children know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews.
Children express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions.
Children gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews.
How you can support your child at home
Talk to your child about what they have been learning about, the topics for each term are included on the class website pages on their plan and newsletter. These give more details about what each year group are learning each term.
There are some good web-based resources if you would like to watch short videos about what your children will be learning about
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/articles/zfxwpg8 – this website has some good information about different world religions that is age appropriate and easy for the children to understand
https://schoolsnet.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/teaching-learning-and-school-governance/curriculum-and-assessment/derbyshire-and-derby-city-agreed-syllabus-2020-2025.pdf – this link will take you to the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus for RE
If you have any questions about how religious education is taught in school, please speak to your child’s class teacher or Miss Jones (the religious education subject leader).
