‘Religious Education intends to play an educational part in the lives of children and young people as they come to speak, think and act in the world.’

‘This entails teachers bringing children and young people first to attend to their own experience and that of others, to engage intellecutally with material that is new and to discern with others what is valuable with regard to living a religious life or one informed by a non-religious or other perspective.’

Living Difference IV purpose statement.

In Religious Education, we study the diversity of the world and different religious beliefs and practices. We follow the Hampshire Agreed syllabus, ‘Living Difference IV’ which encapsulates the key religions represented in the UK. Much of our RE teaching is carried out through exploring the children’s ideas and emphasis is given to discussion and positive, quality talk. Our religious education learning provides a rich and wide range of experiences which give children opportunities to develop concepts and skills that will help them to make sense of their own experiences and beliefs, and to understand the beliefs and practices of members of faith communities through open, fair minded enquiry. Indoctrination and conversion are not part of the educational process and therefore have no place in religious education. Religious education is an educational subject in its own right, taught within an educational framework.

Promoting British Values Statement

The DFE have reinforced the need ‘to create a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.’

Sarisbury Infant School is committed to serving its community and surrounding areas. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever changing nature of the United Kingdom, and therefore those it serves. Sarisbury Infant School understands the important role it has ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

Our School accepts admissions from all those entitled to an education under British law, including pupils of all faiths or none. It follows the policies outlined by its Governing Body regarding equal opportunities, which ensure there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. It seeks to serve all.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

We believe this is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in both the local community and the world around them – a world which is culturally rich and diverse. The range of opportunities that we give the children to think about tolerance, and how events in the past have shaped the future, are wide ranging. We encourage visits from people of other faiths into school to talk to the children and we discuss key events and celebrations form other cultures and religions. Recently we have celebrated World Religion Day.

Golden thread concepts/words

At Sarisbury Infants we teach using concepts, which are ideas, like…love, change, sacred, peace, creation. We think about these ideas in different ways and link these to the children’s own experiences.

The golden threads are concepts that the children will encounter one in EYFS. This is then developed by children studying two of the golden threads in Year 1 and the other two in Year 2.

The cycle of enquiry

At Sarisbury Infants we teach religious education using the cycle of enquiry. This begins with the teacher finding interesting ways to bring the concept/word alive for children. This experiemental moment is there to ensure that RE always starts with real and concrete situations and encounters, and also makes room for the different ways in which children and young people experience what they encounter.

Long Term Plan for Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1

Golden Threads

Click on the websites below to access free resources, activities and games to use with your child at home.