RE

 Intent

At St John’s Church of England Infant School, it is our intent for the Religious Education element of our school curriculum to engage, inspire, challenge and encourage pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions. Religious Education contributes significantly to the Christian character of the school and enables pupils to ask deep and often searching questions about their own faiths and beliefs, and the beliefs, faiths and opinions of others regarding moral issues. Pupils will be able to deepen their understanding of God as encountered and taught by Christians. The teaching of RE makes links between the beliefs, practices and value systems of a range of faiths and world-views studied. The RE curriculum will help to develop responsibility and respect for all aspects of diversity, whether it be social, cultural and religious, and prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.

We will deliver a curriculum that:

• Celebrates our local community and the people that live within it. 
• Inspires creative learning through excellent teaching practices that build on prior R.E. learning and allow for repetition and progression of skills that build upon high starting points.
• Our curriculum embraces the community, in which it is situated, recognising different places of worship including church, mosque, cathedral and temple.  
• Is inclusive, develops self-confidence and identifies that all our children are unique and therefore we should all be tolerant of each other’s beliefs. 
• Encourages our children to be inquisitive about others beliefs developing inquiry based R.E. skills that allow them to culturally aware of the world around them.  
• Promotes equality and understanding of the British values and ensures they are prepared for life in modern Britain.
• To engage pupils in enquiring into and exploring questions arising from the study of religion and belief, to promote their personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
• To provide learners with knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religious traditions and beliefs represented in Great Britain.
• To develop their understanding of the ways in which beliefs influence people in their behaviour, practices and outlook.
• To enable learners to apply the insights of the principal religious traditions to their own search for identity and significance.
• To enable learners to become aware of their own beliefs and values and to have a positive attitude to the search for meaning and purpose in life.
• To encourage learners to develop a positive attitude towards other people who hold religious beliefs different from their own.

Implementation

Religious Education is taught on a weekly basis in each class. Lessons are planned and delivered in a variety of ways so that all children can participate fully. Interactive, practical activities linked to the themes from Understanding Christianity, encourage our pupils to discuss their ideas and extend their understanding of difficult concepts and challenging questions. Teachers may use the Big Question from the Understanding Christianity scheme of learning to gauge the children’s prior knowledge and understanding. Some key topics, for example incarnation and salvation are visited within every year group and teachers are expected to build and deepen the children’s understanding of the topic. Religious Education is teacher assessed termly and discussed as part of a pupil progress meeting. Progress in RE is reported to parents annually within the end of year reports.

Impact

 Religious Education at St John’s Church of England Infant School develops pupils'...

• knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity, other principal world religions, other religious traditions and world views;
• understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life choices), through exploring issues within and between faiths;
• understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures;
• skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy;
• skills of reflection, expression, application , analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these.

Religious Education at St John’s Church of England Infant School encourages pupils to:

• consider their own thoughts and opinions on the challenging questions of the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, their own self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human;
• understand the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures
• learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs;
• learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues;
• develop their sense of identity and belonging in the world, preparing them for life as citizens in a multi-cultural global society;
• develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

Religious Education at St John’s Church of England Infant School enhances pupils'...

• awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression;
• ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

Religious Education at St John’s Church of England Infant School offers:

• opportunities for all pupils for personal reflection and spiritual development;
• preparedness for life in a multi-cultural global society where they can exist in harmony with others and live life to the full.