Religious Education at Diamond Wood

We will provide pupils with a solid foundation in religious understanding and respect for different beliefs.

Religious Education (RE) plays a vital role in fostering pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. It enables young learners in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) to gain an understanding and appreciation of different religions and belief systems, promoting tolerance, respect, and empathy. Relgious Education seeks to foster pupils' curiosity, enabling them to ask questions, explore religious texts, artefacts, and rituals, and reflect on their own beliefs and values.

By the end of EYFS and KS1, pupils should:

Have knowledge and understanding of different religions and worldviews, including those within their local community and globally.
Show respect for diversity and develop positive attitudes towards people with different beliefs.
Understand the role of religion in the lives of individuals and communities and its impact on history, art, and culture.
Engage with religious texts, stories, symbols, and practices, appreciating their significance.
Reflect on their own beliefs and values and respond thoughtfully to moral and ethical dilemmas.

Click here to read our Religious Education Vision and Intent statement.

Religion and beliefs inform our values and are reflected in what we say and how we behave. RE is an important subject in itself, developing an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society. Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. It can develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principal religions, other religious traditions and worldviews that offer answers to questions such as these. RE also contributes to pupils’ personal development and well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. RE can also make important contributions to other parts of the school curriculum such as citizenship, personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE education), the humanities, education for sustainable development and others. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development, deepening the understanding of the significance of religion in the lives of others – individually, communally and cross-culturally.

Department for Children, Schools and Families 2010

Position Statement

We are constantly striving to improve our Religious Education Curriculum in order to ensure our intended and implemented teaching and learning opportunities have the maximum impact upon pupil outcomes.

Click here to read our position statement and find out about our areas for development this year.

RE Timetable

Here at Diamond Wood, we teach Religious Education as a discrete subject in Years 1 and Year 2 (Key Stage 1). The pupils participate in lessons every week.

In Nursery and Reception (EYFS) pupils have at least three dedicated key worker sessions or inputs focusing specifically on 'Understanding the World' each half term. During each half term, additional opportunities for children to develop and consolidate their learning are provided during their continuous and enhanced provision time, both indoors and outdoors.

RE Leader

Our RE Leader is Miss Westall. She is also a Reception teacher and our Personal Development leader. Miss Westall is very passionate about providing high quality RE learning experiences for all pupils.

If you would like to speak to Miss Westall, email office@diamondwoodacademy.co.uk and address the email to her specifically.

Our Approach

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we take pride in providing our children with a broad and balanced Religious Education curriculum. As a school, we have taken the decision to invest in and implement the ‘Kirklees Agreed Syllabus’.

This syllabus is a progressive scheme, which ensures that learning from the previous year is built on and extended in a fun, engaging, and diverse manner.

Click here to read our rationale for adopting the Kirklees Agreed Syllabus.

Religious Education Policy

We have developed and produced a Religious Education policy to ensure our values are applied consistently, define clear expectations, and help provide a framework for staff and pupils alike.

Please click here to view our RE Curriculum policy which has been updated for the academic year 2023-2024.

Our Religious Education Long Term Plan

Substantive and Disciplinary Concepts

To download this information as a document please click here.

Programme of Study

To access the Kirklees Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education click here.

To view our unit overviews for Nursery click here.

To view our unit overviews for Reception click here.

To view our unit overviews for Year 1 click here.

To view our unit overviews for Year 2 click here.

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Collective Worship and Assemblies

The act of collective worship is an integral part of the life of our school and is given a high priority. It will allows pupils the opportunity to reflect and respond to local, national and world issues as well as to develop a growing understanding of different faith and humanist groups. Collective worship also provides an opportunity to address the school community in teaching about British values. Time is dedicated to providing pupils time to celebrate special occasions with each other.

Assemblies are generally every Monday and Friday. On a Monday Mrs T and/or Mrs Price speak to the children about our whole school vision, values, themes and overarching topic for the half term. They will also introduce the Words of the Week for each year group. On a Friday Mrs T and Mrs Price announce our Stars of the Week and Attendance Prize winners. At the end of each assembly the children share the school prayer.

A dedicated Collective Worship time happens in class on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This is a protected and non-negotiable time. Discussions take place during year group planning meetings weekly to decide upon focuses and prepare as a team. Focuses include; School Values, Fundamental British Values, Diamond Rules, Singing, Time to Talk/ Show and Tell. At the end of each collective worship the children share the school prayer.

Developing SMSC within our Religious Education Curriculum

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we are committed to providing a holistic education that promotes the Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development of all our pupils. Our religious education curriculum at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) plays a crucial role in fostering SMSC development, ensuring that our pupils not only excel academically but also develop into well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of community and moral responsibility. Our approach to promoting SMSC within our EYFS and KS1 RE curriculum encompasses the following elements:

Developing British Values within our Religious Education Curriculum

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we recognise the importance of developing pupils understanding of the fundamental British values within our Religious Education curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1). The table below outlines how we integrate and promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs within our Religious Education curriculum.

Developing the Protected Characteristics within our RE Curriculum

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we are committed to providing a religious education curriculum that promotes the development of the protected characteristics within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1). Religious Education plays a crucial role in fostering understanding, tolerance, and respect for people of different backgrounds, faiths, beliefs, and identities. By promoting the protected characteristics within our RE curriculum, we ensure that all pupils have equal opportunities to learn about different religions and develop an appreciation for diversity. The following key strategies are implemented within our EYFS and KS1 Religious Education curriculum:

Helping at Home

Hello, parents and carers! Are you looking for ways to support your little ones' Religious Education (RE) development at home? We've got you covered! Here are some helpful tips to engage your Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) pupils in the fascinating world of RE.

Remember, every child's journey in understanding religion is unique, and embracing diversity is a key aspect of RE education. By implementing these tips, you can actively support your child's development while fostering their appreciation for different beliefs and cultures.

Together, let's flourish in a world of understanding and acceptance!

Take a look at our RE Curriculum in action from last year and this year so far...