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Religious Education

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

National Curriculum

Curriculum Intent

At Coombe Hill Infant School, we aim to deliver a high-quality RE provision which ensures children develop positive attitudes of respect to people of all faiths and none and to develop religious literacy so they may speak about religion and belief in informed and respectful ways.  Our teaching staff agree that we are aiming for the same endpoint - we want our children to become active citizens in a diverse and rapidly changing world.    

Curriculum Implementation 

At Coombe Hill Infant School, we follow the Kingston Upon Thames agreed syllabus.  RE is taught in discrete blocks with both Reception and KS1 learning about three main religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam.  The syllabus incorporates the “Understanding Christianity approach”. It makes a significant contribution to children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as well as providing important opportunities for exploring British Values.

All staff have a clear and ambitious vision for providing high quality teaching of RE.  Our curriculum is designed to…

  • enable all children to make sense of the religions and beliefs studied 
  • develop an enquiring mind
  • understand the impact of the beliefs in people’s lives
  • make connections in their learning and wider experiences of the world
  • help children learn through visitors, educational visits and song
  • expect that the teacher’s own speaking, listening, writing and reading, supports children in developing appropriate language and vocabulary

Our International month allows us to celebrate the cultural diversity of our school (60% EAL, 14 out of possible 17 ethnic descriptors) as we learn about each other's families, where they come from, different faiths and the similarities and differences between our celebrations.

RE in the Reception year:

  • Why is God so important to Christians?  Why are Christmas and Easter so special to Christians?
  • Being special: where do we belong?
  • Which places and stories are special and why?

RE in Key Stage 1:

  • What do Christians believe God is like?  Who do Christians say made the world?  Why do Christmas and Easter matter to Christians?  What is the good news Christians believe Jesus brings?
  • Who is a Muslim and how do they live? 
  • Who is Jewish and how do they live?
  • What makes some places sacred to believers?
  • How should we care for others and for the world and why does it matter?
  • What does it mean to belong to belong to a faith family?

Oracy in all subjects

Our curriculum design allows for as many speaking opportunities as possible as our teachers understand that speaking and listening are at the heart of language.  Not only are they the foundations for reading and writing, they are also essential skills for thinking and communication.  Our teachers are role models for good spoken English, using ambitious vocabulary and correct grammar.  Children are encouraged to read aloud, discuss ideas with their peers and teachers, engage with and learn new vocabulary to extend their spoken and receptive vocabulary.

 

Useful Links

BBC Bitesize RE

Religions of the World- videos