Guidance for schools

Guidance on parental objections to visits to places of worship
Information leaflet containing advice and examples of good practice.

Letter to parents who want to withdraw their child from music on religious grounds
Sample letter that can be adapted and sent out when dealing with parents who wish to withdraw their child from music lessons. This example is based on a letter drafted by Sharon Bates, headteacher of East Acton Primary; it is an example of good practice in that, although holding firm on the grounds that parents do not have the legal right to withdraw their children from music, it offers a compromise in another area. The letter addresses concerns raised by a Muslim parent, but could equally apply to parents from other religious groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses. It also contains a quote from Julie Lewis (acting assistant director, school improvement) confirming the local authority's position.

Monitoring RE and reflection
One-page proforma for making returns.

Transcending the gap between religious and nonreligious
Notes of a workshop on how RE and reflection can promote community cohesion delivered at "A sense of belonging", a conference held on 27 March 2009.

Funeral rites across different cultures (word)
A description of responses to death, and rituals and beliefs observed by a variety of faiths and cultures. For usefureview of books for bereaved children, visit the British Humanist Association website.

Guidance for schools with Muslim pupils (revised 2009) (pdf)
Information regarding Ramadan and other issues that might arise in schools with Muslim pupils.

Monitoring and evaluating religious education (word)
Document prepared by Ealing SACRE to be used by schools when self-evaluating their provision of religious education.

Reflection: some guidance for schools (pdf)
Document designed to help schools develop policies that encourage the participation of all pupils and staff in daily acts of reflection.

Religious contacts and resources (word)
Contact details and web links to places, people and organisations that might be useful to RE teachers in Ealing (updated April 2009).

Religious observance and school attendance (word)
Guidance for schools and parents.

Right to withdraw from collective worship (pdf)
Extract from DFE Circular 194.

Right to withdraw from religious education (pdf)
Extract from DFE Circular 194.