Devon SACRE – Early Years R.E. Syllabus Guidance

1. Devon SACRE – Early Years R.E. Syllabus Guidance Juliet Doswell Early Years Consultant Gerry Winnall – St Thomas Primary School, Exeter Jodie White – Hazeldown Primary School, Teignmouth

2. Our Brief - • To write guidance on Religious Education for Early Years Practitioners working with children in the Foundation Stage in Devon County schools • To draw from the current curriculum legislation and promote good early years practice

3. The EY RE Project • Started from the children’s perspectives • Drew from teacher observation • Followed the children’s learning journeys from children’s points of interest or WOW moments • Supported and facilitated sustained learning opportunities • Reflected on the process of the children’s journey and of any new experiences and discoveries for them

4. Cycle of a learning journey from a WOW Moment! Retrospective Planning & Filling the gaps Experiential learning, play, discovery, asking questions, exploration…… WOW! First Moments Adult initiated or Child initiated Next steps – Dev Matters or RE Curriculum for individual child or group of children.

5. Cycle of a learning journey WOW! First Moments Adult initiated or Child initiated Facilitate children’s learning opportunities At the end of every week reflect on learning to identify next steps and learning opportunities and link back to evidence for each child’s profile. What Development Matters, and what learning from, and learning about, RE have been covered in this learning journey? Are there windows of opportunity to cover specific elements of the Development Matters and next steps for the individual child or group of children?

6. Examples of Cycles Colour coded key of children’s experience and Learning:- • WOW moment • Adult guided • Child initiated • Adult Facilitated/Child continued

7. We would like to thank Sheena Wright, Early Years Adviser for Devon for her wisdom and support.

8. How do children learn? • Children learn by being, doing, talking and listening, exploring and discovering, having fun, sharing……… • Children learn through touch, smell, taste,, feel, sound, sight, experience……..

9. Now it is your turn! • We have brought some natural materials that are part of the resources that are available to the children in a stimulating enabling learning environment. • We invite you to create a special ‘place’ or environment using the materials provided. You can work on your own or with someone else. • Just enjoy the experience! Reflect on your response to the materials and the activity