Religious Education Handbook - Amazon S3 · parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, Paddington which adjoins...

Our Lady of Dolours RE Handbook 2018 pg. 1

Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School

Religious Education Handbook

September 2018

Next Review Date: September 2019


Religious Education Handbook

Introduction

This handbook is to be used alongside the school’s RE policy, the Come

and See scheme of work and the Revised Curriculum Directory and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) to ensure continuity and

progression in the teaching and learning of RE.

Home, School and Parish

Developing and strengthening the links between home, school and

parish are an essential part of the school’s role. The school is in the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, Paddington which adjoins the school,

but serves this parish and the surrounding parishes. The school

works closely with the parish priest who is a newly appointed Governor to ensure regular Masses and liturgical events are undertaken

throughout the year. Dates and times of liturgies and Masses are regularly updated and circulated through the termly RE Newsletter and

on the school website calendar. As much as possible each class celebrates and leads a Class Mass in the Church and Key Stage 1 and

2 pupils attend whole school Masses on selected feast days and at special times in the school year. Planned liturgies (between the Parish

Priest and RE Coordinator) are undertaken with Foundation stage children once a term.

Parents are encouraged to join in school worship and the prayer life of

the school. They are invited to attend assemblies, class/Key Stage Masses and whole school Masses.

The school enjoys support from a growing number of parents who form a Parent, Staff Association (PSA) in annual fundraising for

charities which include CAFOD and other overseas projects such as Save the Children and local charities such as The Catholic Children’s

Society, The Salvation Army, The Cardinal Hume Centre and local food banks.

Pastoral Care

The pastoral care of the children is the responsibility of all staff. While

the Headteacher has overall responsibility and teachers are responsible for their class, all staff share a wider responsibility for the care and

conduct of children throughout the school.


The school encourages parents and children to let the school know of

any problems which may be affecting a child’s school life. The Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher are available to see parents

before and after school and during the day by appointment. This openness is greatly valued by the parents and strengthens the

home/school partnership.

Teachers are available before and after school and a drop in session takes place on a Thursday between 3:30 and 4pm.

The R.E. Policy

The R.E. policy details the aims and objectives for RE education within

the school and detailed guidance on assessment and teaching and learning.

The Religious Education Programme

The school uses the ‘Come and See’; one of the programmes that are recommended by the Westminster Diocese. The aim of the programme

is to explore the religious dimension of questions about life, dignity and purpose within the Catholic tradition. Opportunities for children to

make links with their own experience are an integral part of each topic and from these teachers can guide children in making links with

universal experience.

Links are also made with the experience of other faiths and each class studies two blocked weeks of other faith teaching per year in the

Autumn and Summer terms.

The content of the ‘Come and See’ programme covers the content and

meets the intended outcomes of the Religious Education Curriculum Directory (RECD) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

Teachers have received inset training from the parish priest to strengthen knowledge, understanding and links between the RE

curriculum and the Curriculum Directory. Staff are encouraged to attend regular theological foundation sessions which are led by the

parish priest in order to directly create the links between curriculum and directory. This supports all teachers, particularly non Catholic

teachers and teachers new to the school.


Overview of ‘Come and See’ programme

The theological foundations of the programme Come and See are

based on the three basic human questions and the three Christian beliefs that are in the Church’s response in faith.

Where do I come from? Life – Creation

Who am I? Dignity – Incarnation Why am I here? Purpose – Redemption

Central to the programme is Christian belief in Jesus Christ, Word and

Revelation of God. Each term a basic question/belief about the mystery of life is explored within the Catholic faith tradition. This

question/belief is explored through three themes:

Foundation/

focus

Themes

Community

of faith –

Church

Celebration in ritual

- Sacraments

Way of life –

Christian Living

Autumn Where did I

come from?

Life --

Creation

Family –

Domestic

Church

Belonging –

Baptism./Confirmation

Loving –

Advent/Christmas

Spring Who am I?

Dignity --

Incarnation

Community

– Local

Church

Relating - Eucharist Giving –

Lent/Easter

Summer Why am

here?

Purpose --

Redemption

Serving -

Pentecost

Inter-Relating -

Reconciliation

World – Universal

Church

The programme has three topics for every theme; however, every year group study a different topic relating to the same theme for each

season.


Come and See Topic Overview

Autumn Spring Summer

Nursery

and

Reception

Myself

Celebrating Good news

Welcome Gathering Friends

Birthday Growing Our World

Year One Families Special people Holidays and Holy days

Belonging Meals Being sorry

Waiting Change Neighbours

Year Two

Beginnings

Books Spread the word

Signs and symbols Thanksgiving rules

Preparations Opportunities treasures

Year 3

Homes

Journeys Energy

Promises Listening and

Sharing

Choices

Visitors Giving all Special places

Year 4 People Community New life

Called Giving and

receiving

Building bridges

Gift Self-discipline God’s people

Year 5 Ourselves Mission Transformation

Life choices Memorial sacrifice Freedom and responsibility

Hope Sacrifice Stewardship

Year 6

Loving

Sources Witnesses

Vocation and

commitment

Unity Healing

Expectations Death and New

life

Common Good


The Process- The Learning Journey

A four step process enables the child to explore each topic and develop knowledge, understanding and develop religious literacy.

Search - Explore

This is the introduction to the topic where the children’s life experience

is explored, the questions it raises are wondered at, shared, investigated and their significance reflected upon.

Revelation - Reveal

This is the heart of the programme where knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith is revealed

through the word, in scripture, tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian living

Response – Respond

This is where the learning is assimilated, celebrated and responded to

in daily life.

Timetabling of RE

10% of curriculum time is devoted to RE per week, excluding collective worship. This is equivalent to two and half hours per week in KS2 and

two and a quarter hours per week in KS1. The teaching of Religious

Education is taught through an integrated approach in the EYFS. Each topic lasts for 4 weeks and this time should be divided as follows:

Explore Week one

Reveal Week two and three

Respond Week four

Therefore, each class covers three topics per term and all classes

follow the same theme which relates to the liturgical calendar.


Planning of RE

Teachers plan together in teams in order to support and collaborate to produce high quality lessons which demonstrate progression and

continuity across all year groups. Teachers will use the school’s agreed planning template for units of work. Planning is saved on the school’s

shared system and is regularly monitored by the Deputy Head.

Standards of Teaching, Learning and Assessment

All teaching should be of a high standard. Lessons should be: Creative, stimulating and engaging

Age appropriate and meaningful

Pupils activity engaged through a variety of activities Allow children to discuss, explore themes and ask questions

Demonstrating clear progress and learning in lesson Deeper thinking/higher level questioning

Clear differentiation Time and pace used effectively

Challenge and support – tasks, resources, questions Cater for needs and abilities of ALL pupils – choose tasks

carefully Religious Literacy to be expressed in a range of ways. For

example: o Art

o Music o Drama

o Computing

o Discussion and debate o Poetry and other Literacy based activities

Effective use of next step marking

Every lesson link: Assessment - LO – SC – Tasks – NS (think of driver words/skills/ability of pupils)

AfL to be used effectively throughout lessons to inform formative assessment leading to summative at the end of the topic.

Assessment

The school currently uses the Agreed Levels of Understandings as

outlined by the diocese of Westminster. Teachers plan assessment tasks within each unit of work. Teacher’s assessment is recorded on an

end of unit sheet; linking closely to specific attainment targets. An

overall summative end of term attainment level will be given to each pupil. This data is tracked and used to analyse strengths and

weaknesses in the teaching of RE. Since 2015 the school has worked closely with other local Catholic schools to moderate pupils’ work and


share good practise. Please see Diocese of Westminster website for Agreed Levels of Understandings documents. During 2018-19 the

school will be working closely with the Diocese of Westminster to move over to the new assessment measures for RE.

Teaching of Other Faiths

Two weeks of study per year are devoted to learning about other faiths.

Week 1: Judaism Autumn Term

Week 2: Hinduism, Islam or Sikhism Summer Term

Worship

Worship plays a central part in the life of the school (see Collective Worship Policy).

Prayer

Prayer is an integral and important part of the school day and all

classes pray together at the beginning and end of the school day and before and after lunch. Children are given opportunities to pray aloud

in their own words if they wish and to pray quietly.

Traditional prayers are an important part of the faith tradition and this

handbook includes a list of prayers. The list indicates prayers which should be learnt at each key stage and prayers which the children

should experience. Teachers are encouraged to send prayers home for children to share with their family and to learn for homework.

Masses

Key Stage 1 and 2 classes celebrate planned Masses in the Church. The children prepare the readings, bidding prayers, hymns and

offertory procession. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. The themes of the Masses relate to the liturgical year and Feasts. The

Masses are planned in advance for the whole term.

Children in the EYFS participate in liturgies which take place in the church once a term.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children attend school Masses on selected Feast Days, Holy Days and special times in the school year.


Assemblies

Assemblies are an important opportunity for teachers and children to

pray and worship as a community. Parents and wider family are encouraged to attend children’s class assemblies to support and

celebrate special times together.

Monday 9.10 -9.30 Key Stage 2 assembly – Headteacher or Upper school Manager

Tuesday 9.10-9.30 Key Stage 1 assembly - Deputy

Headteacher or Lower School Manager

Wednesday 9.10-9.30 EYFS assembly - Lower School Manager

Friday 9.10-9.35 Whole school Golden Assembly presented

by classes (see Assembly timetable)

Teachers are required to attend the whole school assembly on a Friday. Classes prepare a whole school assembly twice a year as per

liturgy planner.

Prayer focus

Each class has an area which provides a focus for prayer in the classroom. This area should be changed regularly to reflect either the

season of the liturgical year, the topic being covered, a special saint

etc. and can include religious artefacts, prayers, candles, children’s work and so on.

The list below gives some examples for prayer focuses for the

Liturgical Year.


Monthly Themes

January Epiphany

February/March/April Lent/Easter/Pentecost

May The Month of Mary

June The Month of the Sacred Heart

October The Month of the Rosary

November All Saints

December Advent/Christmas

See RE Coordinator Saints and Feast Days Calendar (via Liturgy Office)

http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk

Websites for Saint's and Feast Day Information www.catholic.org

www.catholicpages.com www.catholic-forum.com

www.americancatholic.com

http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/

http://www.catholic.org/

http://www.catholicpages.com/

http://www.catholic-forum.com/

http://www.americancatholic.org/


Displays

RE displays around the school should emphasise the Catholic nature of the school and liturgical season. Classroom displays should be linked

to the topic being studied that term and should follow the in keeping with the guidelines of the school’s display policy. Above all they

should celebrate the children’s work and achievements.

Education for Personal Relationships

Please refer to the school’s Sex Education (as recommended by the Diocese of Westminster) and PSHE policy

Equal Opportunities

All staff at Our Lady of Dolours School are committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We aim to lead by example and promote an

atmosphere of harmony and respect. Please see Race Equality on the school website for further details.

Activities planned aim to meet the needs of all the children in the class

through differentiation of activities, support and challenge. Activities are planned to support differentiated needs through the use of success

criteria. Teachers use Higher Order Thinking strategies and techniques across all year groups and abilities to ensure each child reaches their

true potential during their personal spiritual journey. HOT questions can be found on RE working walls; this reflects the learning of

individuals and classes. These questions are designed to encourage

awe and wonder about the core foci of the programme; Creation, Incarnation and Redemption.

Special Educational Needs

We aim to provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum for

all the children in our school. Differentiation is undertaken in a variety of ways including:

HOT questions and open questioning Success Criteria

Explicit differentiated activities aimed/delivered for specific outcomes for learning eg. Level 5

Additional resources Differentiated use of Scripture

Use of adult support and questioning

Next step marking and oral feedback-see School Marking Policy


The school follows procedures defined by the Code of Practice and seeks to ensure that activities are provided at an appropriate level for

all pupils.

Sacramental Programme

The school supports the parish in the preparation for First Holy Communion. The school runs the programme after school to include

children who attend other local schools. The RE Coordinator facilitates the programme and the Headteacher directly liaise with the parish

priest to support Sunday Mass preparation for children on the First Holy Communion Programme and supports the parish in arrangements

for celebrating the sacrament.

The Come and See Scheme of work plays an important part in

developing children’s knowledge, experience and understanding of the Sacraments of Baptism, The Eucharist and Confirmation and so

supports the parish catechetic programme.

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