Religious Education
Intent
Religious Education at Meadowhead Infant school and Nursery supports children in affirming and developing their own beliefs, values and attitudes through a variety of first hand experiences and activities. We believe that Religious Education should engage, inspire, challenge and encourage children to equip them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions, explore different religious beliefs, values and traditions. Through enhancing children’s cultural capital, we intend to develop a secure understanding of a variety of religious traditions, beliefs and practices that are followed in our multi-cultural society here in Blackburn. We are understanding and respectful of the social and cultural background of our children and their families, and are mindful of their diverse faith backgrounds and experiences they encounter.
Implementation
At Meadowhead Infant School and Nursery, we follow the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. RE explores big questions about life and it is these questions that are the roots for each unit of work. Children primarily learn from Christianity in the EYFS and KS1. In addition, children will learn from Islam and Judaism as they move into year 1 and year 2. These religions are extended to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism as they move up into KS2. Children encounter religious and worldviews through inviting special visitors into school; reading and looking at books; celebrating special times and events; looking at, touching and using objects and by visiting places of worship locally. In order to introduce subject specific vocabulary, children listen to and talk about stories, using their senses to explore different beliefs. Children are asked questions to help them reflect on their own feelings and experiences and by using their imagination and curiosity, they develop an appreciation of and wonder at the world in which we live.
Impact
Teachers assess the knowledge and skills the children have acquired at the end of each unit by using a series of ‘emerging,’ ‘expected’ and ‘exceeding’ learning outcomes for each key question. Through studying RE at Meadowhead Infant school and Nursery, we hope children will develop a positive sense of themselves, and others, and to learn how to form positive and respectful relationships which contributes to children’s overall spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.