Year Reception

Year Reception RE Lessons 

In Reception, Religious Education introduces children to ideas of identity, belonging, celebration, stories, and caring for the world. The year begins with ”Who am I and where do I belong”, helping children explore their own identity, family relationships, communities, and sense of belonging. They learn that people belong to different groups and communities and begin to appreciate similarities and differences between themselves and others. 

At Christmas, children study “Why is Christmas special for Christians?”. They learn about the Nativity story and discover why Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth. Through stories, songs, symbols, and celebrations, children explore how Christmas is observed in churches and homes.

In “What can we learn from the stories of Jesus?” pupils encounter some of Jesus’ teachings and actions. They consider the values these stories encourage, including kindness, forgiveness, friendship, and helping others. This supports children's moral and social development as they reflect on how stories can influence behaviour. [

Before Easter, children explore “What is in an Easter Garden?”. Through simple introductions to the Easter story, they learn about the events leading to Easter Sunday and the symbols associated with Christian belief in new life and hope.

Later in the year ,“What makes something special?” encourages children to think about special people, objects, times, and places. They learn how religious people may treat certain objects, books, festivals, and places as sacred or important.

The year concludes with “What makes our world wonderful and how should we care for it?”. Children explore the beauty of the natural world and begin to understand Christian beliefs about creation and stewardship. They reflect on ways everyone can help care for the environment and one another. Throughout Reception, RE develops curiosity, wonder, empathy, and respect while laying foundations for future learning about faith and belief.