NATRE resources for primary focus week
As part of Primary Focus Week, NATRE has brought together a carefully selected collection of resources to support those teaching Religion and Worldviews in the primary classroom. These materials are designed to help teachers build subject knowledge, enrich curriculum planning, and deliver high-quality RE that engages and inspires pupils aged 5–11.
The collection includes guidance documents, classroom-ready activities, and examples of best practice, some of which are usually only available to NATRE members. Whether you’re a trainee teacher, early career teacher, subject leader, or experienced practitioner, these resources offer practical support and fresh ideas to enhance your teaching.
We hope this curated set of materials helps to strengthen RE provision in your school and supports you in developing thoughtful, inclusive, and knowledge-rich learning experiences for your pupils.
This resource, developed in collaboration with National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) is aimed at supporting teachers in delivering high-quality religious education for able learners, and includes lesson ideas and reflections from teachers.
How I… collection of resources
The How I… collection is usually available exclusively to NATRE members, but three resources been made available to non-members for Primary Focus Week.
These can be found below:
How I… Assess religion and worldviews in the primary classroom
How I… teach RE to children who are not yet reading or writing independently
How I… Get the most out of #REChatUK
Freedom of religion or belief in a primary setting, Rachel Buckby
In the Spring 2024 edition of RE Today Services primary lead Rachel Buckby reflects on her experience as part of Culham St Gabriel’s research group, which investigated how freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) can be embedded meaningfully in primary settings.
Religious bullying is a complex issue — but one that can and should be tackled with care and confidence. This free toolkit equips teachers with accessible, flexible resources to help pupils explore belief and difference in a safe, meaningful way.
Designed for pupils aged 8–11, this unit of work supports schools in addressing racism through the lens of RE. It offers a sequence of 8–10 lessons exploring themes of justice, identity, and belief, while encouraging meaningful reflection and dialogue among pupils. The resource provides non-statutory exemplification that can be integrated into your broader RE curriculum, with adaptable content and teacher guidance to help build confidence.
In this unit from RE Today’s RE Ideas – Celebration a series of activities are suggested to allow pupils to understand Eid-ul-Adha as a celebration and to understand the story behind the festival. Continuous provision activities are suggested to show how this work can fit with Early Years practice.
For Christians, when Jesus left; what was the impact of Pentecost?
In this unit from RE Today’s Primary RE Curriculum, pupils will find out about the events of Pentecost found in the Bible, considering which events would be needed to retell the story for someone else. They will begin to consider what the events found in Acts 2 might have meant for the first Christians and what they mean for Christians today.
NATRE’s Primary Subject Leader Toolkit is a comprehensive, expertly curated collection of resources designed to support you in leading high-quality RE across your school. Whether you’re new to the role or looking to refresh your approach, the toolkit provides guidance, tools, resources and expert insights.
This clear, accessible resource from NATRE is designed to help school leaders and governors:
- Understand the legal framework around RE in different types of schools
- Ensure curriculum provision aligns with national expectations
- Support staff with resources and professional development
- Promote a school culture that values freedom of religion or belief