Religious Education

Intent

At Thomas A Becket Infant School, Religious Education plays an important role in developing children's understanding of themselves, others and the diverse world in which they live. Through the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus, we provide a broad, balanced and inclusive RE curriculum that encourages curiosity, respect and open-mindedness towards different religions, beliefs and worldviews. The syllabus aims to support young people in developing positive attitudes towards respecting people from all religions and worldviews.

We aim to:

Foster children's natural curiosity about religion, belief and cultural traditions.
Develop understanding of Christianity and other major world religions alongside non-religious worldviews, including Humanism.
Encourage respect, empathy and appreciation for diversity within our local, national and global communities.
Support pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Help children reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences while appreciating those of others.
Promote the school's values of kindness, tolerance, inclusion and mutual respect.

Implementation

RE is taught in accordance with the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus and is carefully planned to ensure progressive knowledge and understanding across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. The syllabus adopts a Religion and Worldviews approach and provides a framework for curriculum design supported by key building blocks of learning.

Our teaching includes:

Engaging and enquiry-based learning experiences.
Exploration of religious stories, celebrations, symbols, places of worship and special people.
Opportunities for discussion, questioning and reflection.
Use of artefacts, photographs, books, videos and visitors to enrich learning.
Celebration of religious festivals and traditions from a range of faiths and cultures.
Links with other curriculum areas, including literacy, art, music, history and PSHE.
Inclusive teaching that values every child's background, experiences and beliefs.

Children learn through a variety of practical and age-appropriate activities, including storytelling, role play, art, music, discussions and visits where appropriate.

Impact

The impact of our RE curriculum is seen through children's growing knowledge, understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs and worldviews.

By the time pupils leave our school, they will:

Demonstrate age-appropriate knowledge of key religious beliefs, practices and traditions.
Show curiosity and confidence in asking thoughtful questions about religion and belief.
Understand similarities and differences between faiths and worldviews.
Respect and value diversity within their community and wider society.
Reflect on their own ideas, experiences and values.
Develop empathy, tolerance and an appreciation of different perspectives.

Through Religious Education, children become respectful, reflective and informed members of society, equipped to thrive in an increasingly diverse world and contribute positively to their communities.

This curriculum supports our vision of nurturing confident, compassionate and responsible learners who celebrate diversity and demonstrate respect for all.