Religious EDucation
What our children say about RE
EYFS-
Year 1-
Year 2-
Our vision for RE
Our vision for RE is to nurture curious, confident and compassionate young people. RE at our school is a place where evry child feels included, respected and valued whatever their background or beliefs. We want our children to grow in understanding of themselves, others and the wider world.
We follow the National Curriculum and the Essex Agreed Syllabus, ensuring that children learn about a wide range of religions and world views in a balanced, meaningful and age-appropriate way. Through this, pupils develop the knowledge and skills to make sense of beliefs, reflect on their own ideas, and appreciate the diversity of the communities around them.
We aim to create a learning environment where:
- nurture is central-children feel safe to ask big questions, expolre ideas and express their thoughts with confidence
- inclusion is lived, not just spoken-every child's identity, culture and worldview is recognised and celebrated
- families feel welcome-RE is accessible, relevant and engaging for parents and carers, helping them understand and support their child's learning
- children learn to value others-developing empathy, respect and the ability to listen to different perspectives
- children become thoughtful citizens equipped to contribute positively to their school, community and the wider world
Our vision is for RE to inspire the children to be open-minded, reflective and kind-hearted, ready to play their part in a diverse and ever-changing society.
How we teach RE
Religious Education is taught in a way that nurtures children’s natural curiosity and reflects the close, caring community they grow up in. Our approach is gentle, inclusive and developmentally appropriate, ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and able to explore big ideas about themselves, others and the world.
We follow the National Curriculum and the Essex Agreed Syllabus from the Saffron Academy Trust, using these frameworks to shape learning that is meaningful, engaging and rooted in real experiences.
We create calm, supportive classrooms where children feel confident to ask questions, share their thoughts and explore new ideas. RE lessons are built around discussion, story, play and hands‑on experiences that help young learners make sense of the world around them. Every child’s background, family and worldview is respected and welcomed. We use age‑appropriate language, visuals and activities so that all children can access learning and feel represented. We encourage children to listen to one another, celebrate differences and recognise what we share in common.
As a small school with strong community links, we draw on the richness of local people, places and traditions. Children learn from visitors, local faith representatives, and community events, helping them understand how beliefs and values are lived out in everyday life.
Stories, artefacts, celebrations and role‑play help bring religions and worldviews to life. Children explore festivals, symbols and practices in ways that are sensory, joyful and memorable. We give children time to think, wonder and reflect. RE helps them develop empathy, kindness and respect—qualities that shape how they treat others in school and beyond.
Our teaching helps children develop early skills in noticing, comparing, questioning and understanding. These foundations prepare them for deeper RE learning as they move into Key Stage 2 and beyond.
What children learn and achieve
Through our carefully planned and nurturing approach to Religious Education, children develop a secure understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, appropriate to their age and stage. They learn to talk confidently about similarities and differences, ask thoughtful questions and show curiosity about the beliefs and traditions of others.
Our children become incresingly reflective, kind and respectful, demonstrating the ability to listen, share ideas and work with others. Because our teaching is rooted in real experiences and strong community links, children develop a sense of belonging and an appreciation of the diverse world around them. By the time they leave our infant school, they have built strong foundations for future RE learning and for becoming compassionate, open minded members of their community.
Enrichment
Our Religious Education curriculum is enriched with meaningful, memorable experiences that help children connect their learning to the real world. Pupils enjoy visiting local places of worship, including our village church, All Saints, where the Reverend warmly welcomes them and supports their understanding of Christian traditions. We invite the ‘Out of the Book’ team into school to bring Bible stories to life through fun, interactive drama sessions that captivate young learners. Throughout the year, children take part in book‑focused days such as ‘Little Glow’, which deepen their understanding of festivals and celebrations. We also embrace cultural events like Chinese New Year and Diwali, giving children the chance to explore diverse traditions through stories, crafts, music and shared experiences. These opportunities help our pupils develop curiosity, respect and a joyful appreciation of the world’s rich variety of beliefs and cultures.
Click on the links below to access the RE subject progression document and the Vocabulary progression document:
RE subject progression at Doddinghust Infant School
RE vocabulary progression at Doddinghust Infant School
Mrs Sarah Driver
RE Subject Lead
As the Religious Education lead, I am passionate about helping children grow into respectful, curious and compassionate learners. My Christian faith is an important part of who I am, and I enjoy running JAM (Jesus and Me) sessions at my local church, Bentley St Paul’s, where I support young children in exploring stories, values and community. In school, I bring this same sense of warmth, openness and care to RE, ensuring that every child feels valued, whatever their religion, culture or family background. I believe deeply in teaching children to appreciate the richness of different beliefs and traditions, and I am committed to creating an RE curriculum that is nurturing, inclusive and joyful. My aim is for all children to feel confident asking questions, celebrating diversity and understanding the importance of kindness in our school and wider community.
How families can help at home
You can support your child’s RE learning by talking together about your own family traditions, celebrations and special places. Sharing simple stories from different cultures or festivals helps spark curiosity and understanding. When your child asks big questions, explore them together and show that wondering is a good thing. Noticing places of worship in the community, or enjoying activities linked to celebrations like Diwali or Chinese New Year, also helps children make real‑world connections. Most of all, showing kindness, respect and interest in others’ beliefs helps your child grow into an open‑minded and thoughtful learner
CBeebies – Let’s Celebrate!
Short, colourful videos and simple activities introducing festivals such as Diwali, Eid, Hanukkah and Chinese New Year. Perfect for EYFS and KS1.
BBC Bitesize – KS1 RE
Child‑friendly clips explaining basic concepts across different religions, including places of worship, celebrations and simple beliefs.
KS1 Religious Education - BBC Bitesize
REquest (Christianity)
A gentle, interactive site with stories, videos and simple games introducing Christian beliefs and practices for ages 4–7.
Crickweb – KS1 RE Interactive Games
Very simple drag‑and‑drop activities for young children, including church labelling, Harvest Festival, Jewish terms and the Seder Plate. Ideal for independent exploration.
Twinkl Go! (Interactive RE)
Offers interactive RE activities such as labelling places of worship, exploring festivals and simple quizzes (requires a school or family subscription). KS1 RE - Twinkl Go - Twinkl
