March 2021: adapting to lockdown learning

Primary Update

This season has been a challenge to navigate in so many ways, not least in terms of emotional and mental wellbeing. This is why we have continued to provide wellbeing resources for Primary schools by releasing a video during Lockdown 3.0 entitled Exploring Emotions.

This short assembly and accompanying activity pack were designed to be sent to students learning from home. It supports children in pausing to take notice of their emotions; enabling them to identify some of the physical clues to how they are feeling. It encourages them to act, express through art, write, and talk about their emotions.


Secondary Update

Many of our GCSE sessions are being adapted to video format, to support students learning from home. The videos are accompanied by supporting questions and worksheets to engage students in deepening their reflections on the topic. In our most recent lesson, Lydia and Sharon unpack the terms mission and evangelism - what do they even mean? – and take a look at some real life examples of Christians who have taken Jesus’ command seriously to go and take the news about God near and far.

Images clockwise from top left: Sharon acting out the story of David in a Primary assembly; online Q&A with Lydia; task taken from our GCSE Mission and Evangelism session.

Supporting schools in a pandemic

September 2020 and schools are returning to the ‘new normal’ of life during a pandemic. This is a tough time for schools with many challenges such as helping students transition back into school life, promoting mental and emotional wellbeing and catching up on missed learning whilst making sure everyone is staying safe and healthy.

We have been getting creative with ways to support schools during this time..

We have created wellbeing resources for Primary schools. This has been well received by teachers who are helping children through an unprecedented change.

As well as offering to come into schools for sessions, following the government guidance, we have created a series of resource boxes that schools can borrow to explore different topics in their Christianity units.

This is a season of being creative and trying out new opportunities, and we have started by creating video content for assemblies. As a large gathering of year groups will not be possible in schools, this is a helpful tool for teachers to use in their classrooms.

As we look to the future under this new way of life, we are exploring new and creative options for supporting schools and providing resources to enhance their teaching of Christian RE.

Keep safe.