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Part of the Heath Family (NW)

Religious Education

At Daresbury Primary School, we want every child to SHINE as a thoughtful and respectful learner. Our Religious Education curriculum encourages children to be curious, reflective and open-minded, developing their knowledge and understanding of the diverse religious and non-religious worldviews they will encounter in their lives.

We believe RE plays an important role in helping children understand the diverse world in which they live. Through RE, children develop secure knowledge while learning to ask meaningful questions, explore different beliefs and traditions, consider different perspectives and discuss their ideas thoughtfully and respectfully.

We use the Oak National Academy RE curriculum, which provides a carefully sequenced, knowledge and vocabulary-rich approach from Year 1 to Year 6. Children progressively build and connect their knowledge as they move through school, revisiting important concepts in increasing depth. They encounter a range of religious and non-religious worldviews and learn that there is diversity both between and within different religions and beliefs.

In the Early Years, learning about religions, beliefs, celebrations and different communities is developed through Understanding the World, providing important foundations for future learning in RE.

Religious and Non-Religious Worldviews

Throughout their time at Daresbury, children develop their knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews.

Children are given regular opportunities to:

  • develop secure knowledge of different religions, beliefs and worldviews;

  • explore important beliefs, practices, traditions and celebrations;

  • understand how beliefs can influence the way people live their lives;

  • recognise diversity within and between religious and non-religious worldviews;

  • explore similarities, differences and connections between different perspectives;

  • ask meaningful questions about religion, belief and human experience;

  • use appropriate vocabulary when discussing religions and worldviews;

  • listen to and consider the views and experiences of others;

  • express and explain their own ideas respectfully;

  • reflect on different perspectives and consider questions about meaning, belief and life.

As children progress through school, they develop an increasingly detailed understanding of the complexity and diversity of religion and belief, enabling them to discuss different worldviews with increasing knowledge, confidence and respect.

Exploring RE

Children develop their understanding through different ways of exploring RE, including theology, philosophy and social science.

Through theology, children explore religious beliefs, texts, teachings and traditions and consider how these are understood by different people.

Through philosophy, children explore important questions about meaning, truth, knowledge, belief and human experience. They learn to consider different ideas, give reasons for their thinking and listen thoughtfully to the views of others.

Through social science, children explore how people live out their beliefs and how religion and worldviews can influence individuals, communities and societies.

Together, these approaches encourage children not simply to learn facts about religion and belief, but to think deeply, ask questions, make connections and develop informed responses.

RE and SHINE

Religious Education makes an important contribution to our Daresbury SHINE framework: Safe, Healthy, Independent, Nurturing and Exploring.

Safe – Children learn that people have different beliefs, traditions and perspectives and develop the confidence to discuss these respectfully within a safe and supportive environment.

Healthy – Children have opportunities to reflect on identity, belonging, values, meaning and the ways in which beliefs and communities can influence people's lives and wellbeing.

Independent – Children develop confidence in asking questions, considering different viewpoints, forming their own ideas and explaining their thinking.

Nurturing – Children develop respect, empathy and understanding for people whose beliefs, traditions, cultures and experiences may be different from their own.

Exploring – Children are encouraged to be curious about different religious and non-religious worldviews, ask meaningful questions and explore different perspectives on life and human experience.

RE Beyond the Classroom

We want children to understand that religion and worldviews are an important part of the communities, cultures and wider world around them.

We continue to foster strong links with local places of worship and value opportunities for children to enrich their classroom learning through visitors, artefacts and first-hand experiences. These opportunities help children connect their curriculum knowledge with the ways in which religion and belief are lived and experienced by people and communities.

We have particularly strong links with All Saints’ Church, Daresbury, and regularly welcome the vicar into school to lead assemblies and contribute to the wider life of our school community.

RE also makes an important contribution to our wider Personal Development provision. Through learning about different beliefs, traditions, cultures and perspectives, children develop the knowledge, respect and understanding they need to live positively alongside others in modern Britain and the wider world.

Our aim is for children to leave Daresbury as knowledgeable, curious, thoughtful and respectful individuals who understand that people hold a diverse range of religious and non-religious worldviews. We want them to have the knowledge and confidence to ask meaningful questions, discuss different perspectives respectfully and engage positively with the diverse world around them.

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