Schools are responsible for providing access to current information about approved providers working in their school, including links to the approved providers' authorised curriculum scope and sequence(s) and information on alternative meaningful activities.

If your school has the school website service (SWS), under Learning at our school, you will have a Religion and ethics page which states:

• NSW schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics. Approved providers deliver these, where available.
• During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
• You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
• Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.

Schools should add information to this page which will provide parent/carers with general information about SRE, SEE and alternative meaningful activities. Below are examples of text that can be added to your website.

Examples of text

At name Public School, SRE and SEE is delivered on day from time (alternatively if SRE/SEE is held over different times for different years: time for K-2 students and from time for Years 3-6 students).

On enrolment parents/carers will be given the SRE and SEE participation letter (consider uploading and hyperlinking your schools letter) to complete and return. After the initial enrolment, notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE/SEE should be given to where, in writing.

The following SRE classes are offered at name Public School:

Name of denomination SRE (E.g. Catholic SRE) is provided by name of approved provider (e.g. Catholic Diocese of Sydney). More information about name of denomination SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the name of approved provider website (hyperlink to the website).

SEE is provided by Primary Ethics. For more information about SEE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Primary Ethics website (hyperlink to the website).

During the time that SRE/SEE classes are being held, students not attending will be located in a separate space and will participate in meaningful activities name activities (activities could include reading, private study or completing homework).

Additional text,supplied by the approved providers,

Below is some additional text, supplied by the approved providers, which schools may wish to add to the school website, if applicable. Please confirm with the approved providers in your school if this text is appropriate.

Special Religious Education (SRE): Combined Christian SRE

Christian SRE is provided by SRE teachers from different Christian denominations and churches. The approved providers in this combined arrangement are (name approved providers). All Christian SRE teachers are authorised and trained by an approved provider.

The Christian SRE curriculum is authorised by (name the provider). The curriculum is based on Good News about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of our Christian life and culture and can be found at www.. Christian SRE engages students in conversations as they question life, explore values and discover faith.

Special Religious Education (SRE): Catholic SRE

Catholic SRE teachers (also known as Catechists) are authorised by the local parish and trained by the Diocese of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic SRE curriculum is approved by the Bishop of the Diocese in liaison with religious education experts. Lessons include activities that are fun and inclusive for students, whilst also providing them the opportunity to critically explore in depth their faith and to pray and reflect. For more information about the Catholic SRE curriculum go to (add link)

Catholic SRE teachers engage young people in hearing the Good News about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of our Christian life and culture

Special Religious Education (SRE): Jewish SRE

Jewish SRE is provided by the NSW Board of Jewish Education (BJE). All teachers undergo a selection process and are trained in the professional delivery of the curriculum and in classroom management. The curriculum is developed by BJE's professionally trained educators taking childhood development milestones into account. Focusing initially on Jewish festivals, the curriculum explores a wide range of Jewish values, ethics and traditions keeping a balanced perspective through engaging and thought-provoking activities. Students are encouraged to think critically, and share their insights, value their Jewish heritage whilst respecting others, and aspire to participate in the Jewish and Australian communities.

For more information, please see BJE's website.

Special Education in Ethics (SEE)

SEE classes support children to develop a life-long capacity for making well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through balanced argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence. Our volunteer SEE teachers use lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. SEE teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills. SEE teachers support student learning by:

• showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
• staying neutral
• creating space for students to think, share ideas, give reasons and ensuring respectful discussion.

SEE is provided by Primary Ethics. You can find out more information about the program from (ethics coordinator contact information) and the Primary Ethics website.