R.E
Reception Religious Education
Lighting the Path - Oxford Owl
In Reception, Religious Education is a core part of the curriculum and is delivered through the Lighting the Path scheme. It is designed to:
Nurture each child as unique and loved by God
Lay secure foundations for Catholic belief, values, and practice
Promote wonder, awe, reflection, and reverence
Support children’s spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development
Learning is developmentally appropriate and rooted in play, storytelling, dialogue, prayer, and experience, fully aligned with the EYFS Statutory Framework and the Religious Education Directory (RED).
In Reception RE, children follow the Lighting the Path scheme of work, where they begin to explore important Bible stories and Christian beliefs in a simple, engaging way. Through stories, play, discussion, and creative activities, children learn about God, Jesus, and how these ideas can relate to their own lives.
Across the year, the children explore different “branches” of learning:
- Creation and Covenant – Children learn about how Christians believe God created the world and how we can care for it. They begin to understand the idea of promises and belonging.
- Prophecy and Promise – They hear stories that look forward to the coming of Jesus, helping them understand themes of hope, waiting, and celebration, especially around Christmas.
- Galilee to Jerusalem – Children learn about the life of Jesus, including his teachings, friendships, and the ways he showed kindness and love to others.
- Desert to Garden – They explore key events of Holy Week and Easter, learning about feelings such as sadness, hope, and joy through the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- To the Ends of the Earth – Children hear about how Jesus’ friends shared his message, and begin to understand what it means to belong to a community.
- Dialogue and Encounter – children learn to respect and explore different beliefs and traditions, talking about similarities and differences in a simple and meaningful way.
Overall, RE in Reception encourages children to develop curiosity, empathy, and respect for others, while beginning to understand important Christian stories and values.