Religious Education

Britain is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world. It is therefore especially important that young people learn about the beliefs and perspectives of those whose beliefs and values differ from their own and at Helmshore School we believe that teaching and learning in RE should stimulate and excite children’s curiosity about the people and the world around them. We use the Lancashire RE Syllabus (2011) as the foundation for the learning experiences we provide for the children. It provides the focus questions which are the keys to unlock the fascinating facts that are inherent in every religion.

The Foundation Stage children explore Christianity and Islam at a basic level through their Early Learning Goals linked to the Community and their Personal Development and Knowledge and Understanding of the World.

In Key Stage One, we explore Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

In Key Stage Two, Buddhism and Sikhism are added to the mix.

We explore, compare and contrast a range of exciting religious festivals, celebrations, rites, customs and traditions.

Teachers use a range of resources adapted to the needs of their children to deliver the subject in and interesting and engaging format. We use both traditional resources and e-learning opportunities to enable all types of learners to access the RE curriculum.

Visitors from different faiths are invited to come into school to talk to the children and to answer questions about their faith.

The children also get the chance to visit places of worship in the local area.

We encourage the children to ask their own questions and to reflect on the answers at their own level. We find that the childrens’ knowledge and understanding of different religions is very diverse by the time they are in Year 6, and that they develop a healthy respect for members of the wider community.