Developing children’s knowledge of Jesus, church and prayer

(L-R) Vicar for Education Dr Patrick McArdle, Vicar General Fr Richard Thompson, Director of Catholic Education Ross Fox and Director of ELC Leah Taylor

A world of exploration and wonder has blossomed for children around the Archdiocese, with the Early Years Religious Education Curriculum officially launched at Haydon Hall in Manuka on Monday.

Already in use at Catholic Early Learning Centres, Director of Catholic Education, Ross Fox, said the curriculum was designed to harness children’s natural curiosity.

“It encourages exploration and discovery,” he said.

“We know that children have so much to learn. They learn well in many instances through play, but they need to have an opportunity through intentional teaching, exposure to rich vocabulary and rich knowledge to become the people they are capable of being – human beings fully alive, which is absolutely what we aspire to for them.”

The curriculum document, Exploring, Learning, and Wondering, includes prayer celebrations, liturgy outlines, and engaging activities.

“The curriculum is entirely consistent with the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework, and it does have an emphasis, which we share, on the holistic education of each child,” Mr Fox said, addressing educators at the launch.

“Under your work and focus, it will continue to grow in its clarity and influence on the lives of our students, hopefully as they begin a journey of more than 13 years in Catholic education, starting here at our Early Learning Centres.”

Mr Fox said the curriculum developed children’s knowledge and understanding of religion by teaching about Jesus and familiarising them with the church and prayer.

“It is really important that children in our 4-year-old program, and hopefully in the future, our 3-year-old program, can gain a deep understanding and experience of Jesus in their lives, the importance of faith, and make connections with Jesus’ life in their own through your teaching and leadership and use of this curriculum resource,” he said.

“The Early Years RE curriculum also links to our Primary School RE curriculum, providing a natural progression for our students.”

Vicar General Fr Richard Thompson, who represented Archbishop Christopher Prowse at the launch, said he was a great supporter of Catholic education in the Archdiocese, particularly because of the people who worked in the sector.

Sharing a passage from Mark’s Gospel, he noted Jesus insisted his disciples let the little children come to him: Do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

“You are the ones welcoming these little children,” Fr Richard told the educators.

“You are the ones who are, with this resource, opening the beginning of their faith journey. It is a wonderful position you are in – one of joy and of celebration.”

General manager Leah Taylor said Catholic Early Learning Centres were increasingly seeing children who had never known God.

“For them, it might be the beginning of an interfaith dialogue. For others, it is the first time that they begin to know that they are deeply loved by God,” she said.

“For us to be able to give that gift to our students is an amazing blessing for us and an amazing blessing for them.”