RE at Yohden Primary School

Intent  

It is the aim of Yohden Primary School to provide opportunities for all children to learn and to achieve, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or ability.  The school curriculum aims to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development and to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of life.  At Yohden Primary School, we believe that RE has an important role to play as part of a broad, balanced and coherent curriculum to which all pupils are entitled. It provides a positive context in which the diversity of cultures, beliefs and values in society can be celebrated and explored. RE provides an opportunity to promote an ethos of respect for others. Lessons ensure that all of our children grow to become tolerant and respectful citizens, who appreciate that everybody has their own set of beliefs and values and that these may differ from their own. Our curriculum encourages all children to ask and reflect on challenging questions and provides opportunities for personal reflection where children can explore their own beliefs and opinions in a safe and supportive environment. Through our teaching of RE, we aim to develop tolerance and respect for the different cultures and beliefs within our society, supporting British values. 

Implementation 

Planning and Assessment 

•     We have planned our curriculum, following the Durham Agreed Syllabus 2020 which has been devised to ensure thorough coverage and progression throughout the school. Children are able to build on skills and knowledge each year and planning provides opportunities to support work at greater depth. 

•     RE units are planned and taught using Yohden Primary’s Long Term and Medium-Term planning documents.  

•      Medium term planning documents are used by teachers to plan lessons, adding additional information to support learning e.g SEND/GD learners.  

•     Teachers use the RE progression document to support their planning and teaching of knowledge and understanding, critical thinking and personal reflection. 

•     Personal reflection is not assessed as this is unique to each child. 

•     Assessments are made using the learning objectives from the MTP and the Durham Agreed Syllabus 2020 Benchmark. 

•     The planning used by staff is structured to promote British Values through developing understanding of other cultures and beliefs, treating people of all faiths equally and nurturing tolerance for other people’s opinions. 

Teaching and Learning 

•     RE is taught in half-termly or termly blocks with one discrete lesson taught per week.  

•     Children complete their learning in a discrete RE book which will be continued to be worked in throughout their key stage to support learning in RE.  

•     At the start of every unit, there will be a unit quadrant with knowledge, questions, vocabulary and answers. This will be added throughout the learning of the unit in purple pen. At the end of a lesson, children add their new learning onto the unit starter.  

•     RE unit title is displayed in the classroom with key information e.g vocabulary displayed.  

•     In each lesson a Key Question will be posed and investigated by all children  

•     Religious vocabulary is displayed to support children and word mats for SEND.  

•     Pictures, sentence starters and scaffolding frames are also provided for SEND children as appropriate. 

•     Start of lessons are to have 5 minute retrieval from previous lessons to support children in retaining RE knowledge.   

•     Focus on enquiry in lessons asking questions and answering them through research, religious artefacts and a range of learning activities. 

•     Where possible, teaching will be supplemented with trips to places of worship or visits from people from faith communities. 

•     Teachers will use a range of teaching and learning styles, including activities such as discussion, role-play, religious stories, games, circle-time, problem-solving activities, use of artefacts and outdoor learning. 

•     Teachers will plan all lessons with an identified focus: Knowledge & Understanding of Religion, Critical Thinking or Reflection.  

•     Children have access to a range of resources for a variety of different religions. We encourage a hands-on approach so that children can see how artefacts are used in different religions and supported to understand their value.  

•      Whole school worship takes place, which also includes mindfulness time when pupils are able to practise reflection skills, singing, or a discussion of what is in the news.  

•     Our local church provides fortnightly assemblies, for both key stage 1 and 2. 

Long Term Plans