Religious Education      

"To build safe, independent lives for autistic young people through support, understanding and enablement"

In order to lead a ‘safe independent life’ when leaving Springfields our learners with autism need to be given the opportunities for encountering people of different beliefs and lifestyles in order to develop the skills to become “skilled cultural navigators”; who at their own level of challenge are able to develop an understanding of the differences of faith and belief around them, as well as establish their own sense of identity and belonging.

At Springfields, we value everyone as individuals and encourage a sense of self-respect and respect for others. We live in a diverse world, so our RE and SMSC curriculum is an acknowledgement of the fact that religious beliefs and practises play an important part in the lives of many people world-wide and have done so throughout history.

RE and SMSC celebrations provide our children with examples and opportunities to help them develop sensitivity, tolerance and empathy towards others.

We aim to:

• develop a knowledge and understanding of Christianity and its impact on our local community and on our society today
• develop a knowledge and understanding of some of the other principle religious traditions represented in Great Britain today
• develop a sense of respect for religious traditions, beliefs and practises
• support pupils to grow in their spiritual development
• develop skills and attitudes which will support pupils’ personal, moral, social and cultural development
• support pupils to begin to reflect upon their own needs and experiences
• develop positive attitudes of respect towards other people who hold views and beliefs different from their own, and towards living in a wider society of diverse religions and beliefs.

Impact of the Religious Education Curriculum:

We aim to inspire, motivate and engage our pupils through a rich variety of meaningful SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) experiences. Through their RE and SMSC journey, our children develop a deep and broad understanding of the diverse world around them. By exploring different beliefs, values and cultures, they learn to appreciate and respect the uniqueness of others, while building a strong foundation of empathy, curiosity and global awareness.