A Catholic Primary Religious Education programme for Foundation and Key Stages 1 and 2 published in July 2012.

This easy to use, teacher-friendly material has been written by a group of experienced diocesan advisors.

It follows on from successful trialling in schools in England and Wales and is based on the theological foundations of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Catechism and the revised RE Curriculum Directory and includes the Catholic attainment levels.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses the search for meaning in life. God’s initiative in Revelation who comes to meet us and our response of faith. (cf. CCC26) This pattern guides the structure of the programme and informs the process of each topic, opened up through; Explore, Reveal and Respond.

Come and See is an invitation to exploration and a promise of life for everyone.

What does the Come and See offer?

Come and  See offers the opportunity to search, to explore, to discover and to respond; this is part of what it is to be human.

• Children – Come and See the wonder of all that is within them and beyond.
• God – Offers the invitation to Come and See
• Teacher – Facilitates the opportunity for children to Come and See

Teaching and Learning with Religious Education at St Paulinus

The teaching of Religious Education at St Paulinus is governed by the following principles:

• Religious Education will be taught discretely and developmentally. Deepening of their knowledge and applying it to real life.
• Children offered ample opportunities to apply and use their knowledge and skills within cross-curricular links.
• Engage with their own and other beliefs.
• Engage with difficult questions of meaning and purpose, to enable them to think critically about their own questions.

To offer children a real sense of worth by belonging to a caring community and the commitment to this community as well as developing an awareness of the demands of religious commitment.

Outcome of Religious Education

As a school we endeavour to attain the following:

‘The outcome of excellent religious education is religiously literate and engaged young people who have the knowledge, understanding and skills – appropriate to their age and capacity – to reflect spiritually, and think ethically and theologically, and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life’

Religious Education Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools 2001

All our children are included regardless of their age and ability. The ‘Come and See’ programmes supports and enables the faith experience of all children because it starts with their real life experience and leads them to reflect upon and consider the Christian message in all its richness in that experience.

We are following the teachings and indeed the actions of Our Lord. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well he spoke about first about the need for water, as he asked for a drink. This enabled him to tell her about the living water – which is himself (John 4:5-42).

Themes and topics across the school

Themes

The Church

• Autumn Term:        Domestic Church (family)                           Family
• Spring Term:          Local Church (parish & diocese)                Community
• Summer Term:       Universal Church (worldwide community)  World

Sacraments

• Autumn Term:       Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination              Belonging
• Spring Term:         Eucharist                                                     Relating
• Summer Term:      Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick           Inter-relating

Christian Living

• Autumn Term:      Advent Christmas                                        Loving
• Spring Term:        Lent,  Easter                                                Giving
• Summer Term:     Pentecost                                                    Serving

The Come and See programme is developed through three themes based on the four constitutions of the second Vatican council, Revelation, Church, Christian living and Sacraments.

Each of the four constitutions are gradually explored each time in greater depth. The catechism of the Catholic Church addresses the human search for meaning, God’s initiative in Revelation who comes to meet us and our response to faith. This pattern guides the structure of the programme and informs the process of each topic, opened up through: Explore, Reveal and Respond.

• Within Explore –children begin to look at and focus on the experience with their own lives – concerning themselves, their relationships and the world. (This usually takes one week to complete)
• Within Reveal – The heart of the process where knowledge and understanding of the catholic Faith is revealed through the Word, in Scripture, Tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian living. (This usually takes two weeks to complete)
• Within Respond –this is where the learning is assimilated celebrated and responded to in daily life. (This usually takes one week to complete)

Be Still and Know- Pilot Scheme

This year, Year 1 &  Year 2 are taking part in a pilot scheme for ‘Be still and Know’