At Beddington Infants’ School we enjoy learning RE so we are respectful and polite, full members of the community and have an understanding of the diverse and multicultural society we live in.
Our RE curriculum has been taken and adapted from the Sutton Agreed syllabus for Religious Education to ensure our children are given a breadth of skills and knowledge surrounding the main religions in the UK. The children look closely at Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism, however other religious beliefs are highlighted where appropriate to the learning that is being undertaken. This syllabus has a clear progression of skills that is built on the previous units and will allow our children to leave Infant school with a clear understanding of different religions and cultures.
We believe that allowing the children to explore RE themes independently throughout our provision allows them to express themselves in a variety of creative ways and having access to religious artefacts and information books supports this learning. We invite guests to deliver assemblies in school, which allows the children to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts taught and to see from the perspective of a member of the religious community. Children are encouraged to share about their faiths throughout the school year, either in relation to another faith or their own.
Children learn to make connections with features of other religions. For example: exploring the similarities between Hanukkah and Advent. The children are encouraged to describe some religious beliefs and teachings and their importance, including festivals such as Diwali. They explore religious books such as the Bible and the Quran and the importance of these in the lives of Muslims and Christians. They learn how religious beliefs can be expressed through stories and language.
At Beddington Infants’ School we believe that children will learn and develop best in the subject of Religious Education by learning not only about religion, but from religion too. We actively encourage visits to and visitors from different places of worship in our local community. This enables us to provide a more rounded approach to RE, helping children to learn in both active and reflective ways.
