"collective worship" ???

[mummynoseynora]

I am starting to look at the local school prospectus (dd will be starting next year)

this is a 'normal' non religious run school - ie not CofE / catholic etc - and yet in the prospectus it talks about 'collective worship' I have read up a bit and this appears to be law - where references to the bible are used and prayer etc.... I believe I can withdraw DD from it but I wouldn't want to single her out

I just find it rather odd that a non religious based school legally has to do this ? If I wanted religion taught to her as fact I would have sent her to a religious school..... I am confused!

I have no problem with the RE provision as I want her to be aware of religion and other cultures etc, but myself and DH are atheist, that aside given the large number of religions prevalent in this country nowadays surely many people withdraw / are confused by this?

Does anyone have any examples of this part of assembly? maybe it was just worded badly?

but to understand other people's faith helps us to understand how/why they act and feel and may prevent us from causing offence to others especially if we do not share that faith

I'm afraid children start learning about faith far earlier than starting school. As a registered Childminder I'm legally obliged under the EYFS to ensure every child has a broad experience of all six areas of learning. Knowledge and Understanding of the World (KUW) carries just as much weight as Communication, Language and Litereracy (CLL). This is achieved in it's simplest form, such as making Eid cards or celebrating a range of other religious festivals. Living in a town that fell victim to race riots i believe it's a good thing to inspire tolerance of other faiths before children 'learn' how to be intolerant through their families and communities.

I'd love my children to receive a balanced education on world faiths but so far it hasn't happened. In three years of infant school they've covered the Muslim Faith for a short period in Year 2 and looked at a Jewish symbol for a week in Year 1.

Looking at the Sacre recommendations/schedule if there was an option of exploring a religious idea like light or welcoming ceromonies for example, through non-christian or christian teaching - our school always choose to go down the christian route, they chose not to explore other faiths.

All the major non-Christian festivals pass us by - there is never a mention of Eid or Diwali - and this in a non faith state school. We spend nearly 2 months preparing for Christmas in School and not one day to join with the other major faiths, extending undertstanding of non Christian celebratory days.

If the aim is to educate and share understanding of world faiths to improve tolerance is our school alone at failing in this regard?