Religious Education at The Meadows
At The Meadows Primary, we believe that Religious Education contributes dynamically to our children’s education and all-round personal development. We believe through the uses of distinctive language and informed conversation, Religious Education develops children' skills of enquiry and response. Religious Education encourages children to reflect on, analyse and evaluate their own beliefs, values and practices and communicate their responses thus promoting mutual respect, tolerance and understanding across different cultures and communities. We recognise the variety of religious and non-religious families from which our pupils come. We welcome and celebrate this diversity, are sensitive to the home background of each child and work to ensure that all pupils feel and are included in our R.E. programme.
Early Years Foundations
In EYFS, pupils are introduced to a variety of religious and non-religious festivals including Chinese New Year, Diwali and Christmas. Staff follow the EYFS framework and link knowledge of Religious Education to ‘Understanding of the World’. Children develop their vocabulary, curiosity, storytelling and ask questions when learning about these celebrations, ready for learning in Key Stage 1 and beyond.
KS1: Jigsaw RE
Religious Education in Key Stage 1 is delivered through the Jigsaw RE curriculum, providing a coherent, enquiry-based approach that supports pupils in developing knowledge, understanding and respect for religions and worldviews. Teaching is carefully sequenced to ensure progression while remaining accessible and engaging for young learners.
Lessons focus on:
- Exploring key religious stories and what they teach believers
- Learning about important religious beliefs and ideas in age-appropriate ways
- Understanding symbols, objects and places that are important to different religions
- Learning about religious celebrations and festivals and why they matter
- Developing respect for different religions, beliefs and ways of life
- Recognising similarities and differences between religions and pupils’ own experiences
- Encouraging reflection on big questions such as belonging, kindness and meaning
- Developing speaking and listening skills through discussion and questioning
- Introducing and revisiting key religious vocabulary
KS2: Opening Worlds
Religious Education in Key Stage 2 is delivered using the Opening Worlds curriculum, which provides a coherent, structured and enquiry-based approach to learning about religions and worldviews. The scheme is designed to deepen pupils’ understanding of beliefs, practices, values and moral questions while developing their ability to think critically, reflect thoughtfully, and engage respectfully with different perspectives.
Lessons are carefully sequenced to ensure progression in knowledge, understanding and skills across the key stage. Pupils engage with a range of activities, including discussion, analysis of texts and artefacts, storytelling, and reflective tasks. A large part of Opening Worlds in the
Lessons focus on:
- Exploring key beliefs, teachings and practices of major world religions
- Understanding religious texts, stories, symbols, and rituals and their significance
- Examining how religion influences individuals, communities, and societies
- Developing the ability to ask and reflect on big questions about meaning, purpose and morality
- Comparing similarities and differences within and between religions and worldviews
- Using religious vocabulary accurately to express understanding
- Encouraging discussion, enquiry, and respectful debate
- Reflecting on personal values, experiences, and moral choices
- Connecting learning about religion to broader cultural and historical contexts
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all, or part of the school's Religious Education (RE) curriculum. If you wish to withdraw your child from RE, please email the office outlining which elements of the RE curriculum you wish for your child to be withdrawn form and a member of the Senior Leadership Team will be in touch to discuss it with you.