This document provides guidance for teaching under fives about religion and human experience. It outlines early learning goals and how to teach children about key concepts such as special people, communicating through prayer, special books, golden rules, leaders, special places, belonging to a community, caring for others, and special celebrations. The guidance suggests exposing children to religious stories, traditions, and vocabulary to familiarize them with religion in a developmentally appropriate way.

1. Thinking Together
Non Statutory Guidance
for the Under Fives

2. Non-Statutory Guidance for the Under Fives
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Authority AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience & Human Experience
Personal and Social Children: The children are familiar with Children talk and think about
Development the name Jesus (e.g. stories and how they are special and unique
• are confident and show
songs – nativity). (e.g. role play, home corner,
appropriate self-respect
developing self identity through
• are able to establish looking in mirrors and video
effective relationships with play back).
other children and adults
• demonstrate
independence in selecting
an activity
• express their feelings Concept Target: special
people
• show respect for people of
other cultures and beliefs
• listen and respond to
stories and songs
Language and Literacy
Area of Learning Early learning goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Identity AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience & Human Experience
Personal and Social Children: Children are familiar with the Children have the opportunity
Development word prayer and begin to know to share and talk about how
• express their feelings
that this is how some people they talk to people they can
• use a growing vocabulary talk with God (e.g. Lord’s prayer, and cannot see (e.g. telephone,
Language and Literacy with increasing fluency school prayers). Concept Target: postcards, internet, prayer).
to express thoughts and communicating
convey meaning – prayer
31.

3. 32.
Non-Statutory Guidance for the Under Fives
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Authority AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience & Human Experience
Language and Literacy Children: The children are familiar Children enjoy listening and
with the word Bible and sharing books, including stories
• listen and respond to
have had the opportunity to from a holy book, (e.g. Bible,
stories and poems
listen to several of its stories Torah, Qur’an).
• make up their own stories (e.g.Noah,Samuel,Jonah,
and take part in role play Creation, Namaan).
• enjoy books and
handle them carefully Concept Target:
understanding how they special books
are organised
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Authority AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience & Human Experience
Personal and Social Children: Children are familiar with Bible Children have the opportunity
Development stories which illustrate special to become familiar with the
• are confident and show
rules (e.g. 10 lepers: saying thank rules and routines of the
appropriate self-respect
you, Prodigal son). classroom and know why rules
and are able to establish
are important in the classroom.
effective relationships with
Children have the freedom to
other children and adults
explore choices and activities
• express their feelings and available in the classroom.
behave in appropriate
ways, developing an
Concept Target:
understanding of what is special teachings
right and what is wrong – golden rules
and why

4. Non Statutory Guidance for the Under Fives
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Authority AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience and Human Experience
Personal and Social Children: Children are familiar with Bible Children have the opportunity to
Development stories about key leaders (e.g. think about why it is important
• establish effective David, Daniel). to listen to teachers, parents,
relationships with other significant carer and respond
children and with adults appropriately.
• work as part of a group Concept Target:
• show the ability to initiate leaders
ideas
• show respect for people
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Identity AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience and Human Experience
Knowledge and Children: Children are familiar with the Children can talk about places
Understanding of the World word ‘church’ and know that this that are special to them (e.g.
• can talk about where they
is a building in their community shop, bedroom, park, nanny’s
live, their environment,
(e.g. visit a church, photos, house, place of worship).
and show an awareness
postcards, paintings, drawings).
of the purposes of some
features of the area in Concept Target:
which they live. special places
33.

5. 34.
Non-Statutory Guidance for the Under Fives
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Identity AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience and Human Experience
Personal and Social Children: Children are familiar with the Children have the opportunity to
Development idea that people meet in groups show how they care for others
• are confident, show
to share with each other (e.g. and respect other people’s
appropriate self-respect
Beavers, clubs, assemblies, possessions in the classroom
• are able to establish grace before a meal, circle time, (e.g. caring for a doll in role
effective relationships with church, Sunday school). play/home corner, sharing,
children and adults
• are sensitive to the needs
Concept Target: belonging putting pencils away).
and feelings of others and to a community – caring
show respect for people of for others
other cultures and beliefs
Area of Learning Early Learning Goals AT1 Learning about Religion Questions of Identity AT2 Learning from Religion
and Human Experience and Human Experience
Personal and Social Children: Children are familiar with the Children are able to share and
Development word Easter and know that it is talk about special moments
• respond to relevant
a happy time of the year (e.g. (e.g. bedtime story, school visits,
cultural and religious
listen to the story of Easter parties, new baby, celebrations
events and show a range
Sunday, talk about some Easter and festivals).
of feelings, such as
traditions).
wonder, joy or sorrow
in response to their Concept Target: special
experiences of the world celebrations