Subject Leader - Mrs B Potter
What do we want our pupils to learn?
We want our children to grow up to be interested, kind, empathetic and tolerant members of society. The principle aim of RE teaching in school is to engage pupils in an enquiry approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community. RE lessons allow time for the children to think about bigger questions, share experiences, make comparisons, be creative and debate ideas whilst learning about the major world religions in a sensitive and supportive environment.
What we are teaching...
Reception
Why is the word God so important to Christians?
Children will learn that God is the name Christians use for who they believe created the earth and universe. We explore the importance of the ten commandments in reminding Christians how they should honour God’s name.
Why do Christians perform Nativity plays at Christmas?
Pupils will know that the birth of Jesus is known as the nativity and it was an important event for Christians as Jesus came to show that all people are precious and special to God.
Why do Christians put a cross in an Easter Garden?
We look at the events of Jesus' last week on earth (Holy week) and explore how Easter, the most important event in the Christian calendar, is celebrated.
Year 1
What do my senses tell me about the world of religion and belief?
Children will learn about the five senses (see, hear, smell, touch, taste) and how they are engaged in religion with a particular focus on the worship practice of Hindu Puja.
How does a celebration bring a community together?
We explore how Christian festivals such as Christmas and Easter, and the Muslim celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha help to bring the religious communities together.
What do Jewish people remember on Shabbat?
Pupils will learn the Jewish story of creation and relate it to observing Shabbat.
What does the cross mean to Christians?
Children will learn the Easter story from the Bible and how Christians believe Easter gives people hope of a new life, now and in the future.
How did the universe come to be?
We compare different beliefs related to the creation story within Christian and Hindu traditions. We also explore alternative non-religious ideas about the origin of the universe.
Year 2
Why is light an important symbol for Christians, Jews and Hindus?
In trying to answer this question, pupils will identify how Christian, Hindu and Jewish beliefs regarding the symbolism of light, guide their daily lives.
What does the Nativity story teach Christians about Jesus?
The children explore in greater detail the Nativity narratives in the books of Luke and Matthew in the Bible. They then look ways in which Christians use the story of the nativity to guide their beliefs and actions at Christmas time.
How do Christians belong to their faith family?
We will identify different ways Christians show they belong to their faith family and the symbolism of light and water found at a Baptism service.
How do Jewish people celebrate Passover (Pesach)?
In this series of lessons, we explore Jewish family traditions related to Passover and the symbolism of each part of the Seder plate.
Why do people have different views about the idea of God?
We examine how a person’s behaviour and beliefs regarding right and wrong are connected to their view of God across at least two different religions/worldviews.
How we teach...
We follow the Saffron Academy Trust (SAT) RE Scheme. In line with and recommended by the Essex SACRE 2022 Syllabus, the SAT RE Scheme explores Religious Education through three distinct lenses.
Lessons follow a 5-Step pedagogy, centred around Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction, with a strong emphasis on Modelled Exemplar - Guided Practice - Independent Practice (My Turn - Our Turn - Your Turn). This approach - which is a consistent feature of the scheme across all year groups - allows for often complex concepts and applied activities to be broken down into small steps, allowing all pupils to engage and succeed.
What pupils will have learnt to do...
The expected impact of our RE teaching is that pupils will:
- Develop a conceptual understanding of religion, religious beliefs and practices – in order that they can begin to engage in informed reflection and discussion about religions and religion.
- Develop an informed appreciation of religions among all children – in order that they can explore religions with openness, interest and enjoyment.
- Value religious and cultural diversity – in order to enhance their social and cultural development and to contribute to a more just and civil society.
- Feel enabled to create meaning from their knowledge and understanding of religions– in order to enhance their spiritual and moral development.
- Develop an awareness of the richness of religions and their contributions to society and culture – in order that they can make increasingly mature judgements about the world in which they live.
- Recognise commonality and difference within and between religions – in order to develop respect, openness and curiosity.
- Have an early understanding of the significance of religious commitment and practice in the lives of individuals – in order that they might develop respect for individuals and their right to hold beliefs that are different from their own.
- Make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world. R.E. offers our children the means by which to understand how other people choose to live and to understand why they choose to live in that way.