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Barnes Farm Infant School

Barnes Farm Infant School

Building Futures, Inspiring Success

Religious Education


                                                         

In the Autumn Term EYFS will be thinking about why they are special and how we are all different and all special. Through stories and videos, they will be enjoying finding out about Harvest and the celebrations that happen in this country and around the world.

Year 1 will be investigating 'Special People' including why Jesus is special to Christians. They will be learning that Harvest is a time when Christians say thank you for their food. Later, they will be enjoying the story of Rama and Sita and the festival of Diwali and it's importance to Hindus. 

Year 2 will be exploring 'Special Places' in our homes, school and for people of faith. They will find out about the features of churches and mosques. Looking at Harvest, they will be learning about the Jewish Festival of Sukkot and the Christian Harvest Festival. 

 

How we teach RE in Key Stage 1

What we aim to achieve through our RE Curriculum? The schemes we follow and why?

We follow the Essex Scheme for RE which is called exploRE. This scheme has been put together by SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education). The Essex SACRE, which meets once a term, comprises four statutory groups and co-opted members. The scheme is reviewed every five years.

Learning and teaching in R.E. is about knowing who you are, where you belong and the things that are important in your life. It is also about recognising what things are important to others and developing respect for others, their culture and their religion.

How our RE Curriculum is delivered... 

This scheme is topic based for each term and over the two years will have introduced the children to the six main religions: their special people, symbols, places, books and stories, festivals and ways of living.

What difference is our RE Curriculum making?  What assessments we use? How we track progress...

Our curriculum aims to help children to understand and respect beliefs and opinions of different faiths, this is also reflected in our school assemblies.  Teacher assessment is based on best fit performance descriptors at the end of KS1 and an informal quiz at the end of year 2.

Ways We Celebrate RE...

Each year group has been allocated a special festival that they study, often parents and visitors are invited to talk to the children about the way that they celebrate these events. The children then share their findings and activities with the school in an assembly. (Foundation Year – Chinese New Year, Year 1 –Diwali, Year 2 Ramadan and Eid-ul –Fitr.)

We usually visit the local church for our Harvest Festival and support the Chelmsford Food Bank with Harvest donations. Remembrance Day is marked with a joint act of remembrance with the Junior School. Christmas Nativity plays and Christmas songs are shared with parents and carers. The Year 2 children have a school trip to visit the Cathedral and Mosque in Chelmsford.

At Easter we often have a design competition to celebrate the festival.

How we teach RE in Early Years Reception...

What we aim to achieve through our RE Reception Curriculum? The schemes we follow and why?

Learning and teaching in R.E. is about knowing who you are, where you belong and the things that are important in your life. It is also about recognising what things are important to others and developing respect for others, their culture and their religion.

How our RE Curriculum is delivered in Reception...

Our Foundation Stage children have a broad curriculum and Mantle of the Expert approach. Religious festivals and regular R.E. stories form part of their knowledge and understanding of the world Early Learning Goals.

What difference is our Reception RE Curriculum making?  What assessments we use? How we track progress.

Our F.S. children start to show respect for other children`s feelings and ideas. They are beginning to understand about some festivals and religions. The children have assessments to form the profile in the Early Learning Goals.