Reception Religious Education

In this first branch of our religious teaching, we hear how God made our beautiful world and everything in it, including us.

We learn that the Bible is a special book and hear that when God created the world He said: “Indeed it is very good.” — Genesis 1:31

We hear how the whole of creation shows God’s love for us in Laudato Si’ 84–88.

We hear and practise the words and actions of the sign of the cross throughout the day: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The children come to believe that God is love, that He made each one of us and loves each one of us as a unique person.

God loves us and we are part of His family.

God tells us that we must take good care of all of creation. We are to be stewards of creation — it is an extremely important job.

We celebrate God’s family and recall how we entered it through Baptism.

We give thanks to God by reflecting on creation and responding to its glory through: art, drama, dance, music, meditation, and prayer.

We learn to live out our faith by loving ourselves, our family, God’s world, and others.

We learn through Catholic Social Teaching about the Dignity of the Human Person: that God made each one of us and each one of us is special. We must treat others in a caring way because God made them too.

In this section, children will explore the beautiful story of the prophecy and promise of Jesus’ birth. The angel Gabriel told Mary she would have a son named Jesus (Luke 1:26-31, 38). Jesus was born in Bethlehem, laid in a humble manger (Luke 2:4-7), and visited by shepherds who were guided by angels to come and see him (Luke 2:8-20). This includes key moments like the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the visit of the shepherds.

Children will also learn about Advent traditions, including the Advent wreath and the nativity crib, as well as how different cultures around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. Through these traditions, we reflect on the meaning of Advent: preparing our hearts, helping others, and showing our love to God.

In connection with Catholic Social Teaching, we’ll discuss the dignity and rights of workers. This teaching reminds us that everyone should be able to work in safety and dignity, as each person is loved by God. Advent is a season of preparing ourselves and supporting those around us.

In this branch, our class will focus on the life and teachings of Jesus, discovering how He showed God’s love to everyone and cared for all people, especially the poor and vulnerable.

We will start by learning about the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12), who brought gifts to the newborn Jesus, recognizing Him as God’s Son, the Saviour of the world. Jesus came for everyone, and His birth is celebrated at Christmas as the moment God entered the world in love.

We will also learn about how Jesus welcomed children and showed compassion for all people, teaching us that we, too, are called to show love and care to others in our words and actions, just as Jesus did (Mark 10:13–16).

We will reflect on the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1–14), where Jesus took care of the hungry, reminding us that Jesus wants us to help those in need.

As we explore these stories, we will also learn about the Church’s prayer, the “Glory Be,” which is prayed in response to the coming of Jesus, praising God’s greatness and love for all.

In our learning sessions, we will focus on the importance of helping those who are poor or hungry, remembering that everyone, no matter where they live, has the same basic needs for food, water, shelter, and care.

The Church teaches us to care for those who are most in need, living out the principle of “An Option for the Poor and Vulnerable” as we work together to show love and kindness to everyone, just as Jesus did.

During this branch of learning, children will explore the meaning of Lent and Easter through simple and engaging activities.

They will learn that Lent is a time for caring for others, a season of reflection, and a time for helping those in need, following Jesus’ example.

They will hear the story of Jesus’ death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday, understanding that Easter is a celebration of new life and Jesus’ continued presence with us.

The children will also recognize key symbols of Lent and Easter, such as the color purple for Lent, the cross, and Easter eggs, as well as cultural traditions like hot cross buns and Easter gardens.

They will reflect on the importance of the Great Commandment — to love God and love others — and how this calls us to care for those who need help, both locally and around the world.

Through activities like learning about the rights and responsibilities that come with having what we need, children will explore how they can act with kindness and compassion during Lent and beyond, following Jesus’ example of love and service to others.

In this branch, our class will learn about the amazing ways Jesus continues to care for us after He returned to His Father.

Before He left, Jesus sent us a special friend, the Holy Spirit, to look after us and help us live out His love.

We will hear the simple story of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in a powerful way, and how the early Christian community (Acts 2:42–47) shared the Good News of Jesus with joy and love.

We will also explore how the Holy Spirit is our friend, helping us to grow in faith and love for one another.

The Holy Spirit is a gift to all believers, and we are called to live as a family and community, supporting and caring for each other.

Our lessons will include learning about the special role of the parish church, where we gather with friends to pray, sing, and celebrate together, especially on Sundays.

We will also reflect on how we are all part of God’s big family, connected to one another, no matter where we come from or how different we may be.

As part of the Church, we are called to live in solidarity, helping and supporting one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those in need.

We will see that just like Jesus, we are meant to love, help, and care for each other as part of God’s family.

In this branch of our learning, we will explore the lives of two of Jesus’ closest friends, St. Peter and St. Paul, focusing on their special relationship with Jesus and their important roles in the early Christian community.

We will learn about their feast days and the significant moments that shaped their faith.

To deepen our understanding, we will invite a guest from our local parish to share their personal journey of faith and explain why being a friend of Jesus matters to them.

We will also explore diverse representations of Jesus, including artwork from non-European traditions, to understand the global nature of Christianity.

Additionally, we will engage with the rich sensory aspects of faith by learning about the music, food, smells, and clothing from different cultures, helping us appreciate the variety of ways people experience and live out their faith in local communities.