Jigsaw RE - An Enquiry Based Approach to RE

Jigsaw RE is an enquiry based, comprehensive Religious Education curriculum programme for ages 3-11. Written by RE specialist teachers in the Jigsaw team and accessible via our online portal, the weekly lesson plans include all the resources required to deliver exciting RE.

An integral assessment process and accompanying assemblies make Jigsaw RE the first of its kind, and the vehicle to transform statutory RE in the primary school. It adopts an enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning with much flexibility and choice of when to include which religion/worldview.

What does Jigsaw RE include?

Jigsaw RE features over 80 enquiry-based units with both medium and short-term planning, making RE accessible, enjoyable, and effective. The programme, delivered via our online portal, is designed to develop children's understanding of the world, diverse worldviews, and their personal, social, and emotional skills.

With a consistent structure of 6 lessons per enquiry, Jigsaw RE provides high-quality teaching resources and a robust three-strand assessment system, focusing on personal development, substantive knowledge, and disciplinary knowledge. Built by RE curriculum experts, with contributions from worldview representatives, Jigsaw RE supports Ofsted and SIAMS outcomes, SMSC, British Values, anti-radicalisation, critical thinking, growth mindset, and overall personal development.

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Our Worldviews

We believe that Religious Education is essential for children’s personal, social, and spiritual development. So, our innovative and comprehensive RE scheme (for ages 3-11/12) has been created in collaboration with worldview and faith leaders to ensure accuracy and core development of children’s critical thinking skills.

Understanding their own and others’ worldviews fosters empathy and respect, helping children appreciate how experiences, culture, and upbringing shape perspectives and decision-making.

In Jigsaw RE, all worldviews—religious and non-religious—are treated equally, reflecting their equal value and importance.

Jigsaw RE explores the Bahá'í worldview by introducing students to its key principles, such as the unity of all people, the importance of justice, and the promotion of equality. Through engaging lessons and activities, students learn about the Bahá'í teachings on removing prejudice, advocating for women’s rights, and fostering global cooperation. Jigsaw’s resources encourage reflection and discussion on how these values can be applied in everyday life, helping students develop empathy, respect, and a deeper understanding of the Bahá'í faith and its contributions to a harmonious, inclusive society.

Jigsaw RE introduces students to the core principles of Buddhism, focusing on the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the concept of mindfulness. Through interactive lessons and discussions, students explore how Buddhism teaches compassion, non-violence, and the importance of overcoming suffering. Jigsaw’s resources help students understand the Buddhist perspective on life, death, and rebirth, while encouraging them to reflect on the relevance of these teachings in their own lives. By exploring the values of peace, harmony, and self-awareness, students develop a deeper understanding of Buddhism and its role in promoting empathy and personal growth.

Jigsaw RE covers key aspects of Christianity through a structured approach, with repeated themes in every year group, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of Christian beliefs and values. These enquiries explore the core teachings of Christianity, including the life of Jesus, the concepts of love, forgiveness, and salvation, and the role of the Church in modern society. There are three recommended Christianity enquiries for every year group as well as a range of extra optional enquiries that allow teachers to tailor the curriculum to their school’s needs, covering topics such as the events of Easter and Pentecost and their impact, and deep dive into traditions. This flexible approach ensures that teachers can adapt the lessons to engage their students and meet their specific educational context while providing a solid foundation in Christian teachings.

Jigsaw RE introduces students to Ethical Veganism through three comprehensive enquiries. Students focus on the ethical considerations behind choosing a vegan lifestyle, including the impact of food choices on animal welfare, the environment, and human health. Lessons explore the core values of compassion, sustainability, and non-violence, encouraging students to reflect on how their personal actions can align with these principles. Through engaging activities, students learn about the ethical reasons for adopting veganism, the importance of mindful consumption, and the broader social and environmental implications of their choices. Jigsaw RE fosters critical thinking, helping students understand how ethical veganism contributes to a more compassionate and sustainable world, while encouraging empathy and respect for differing viewpoints.

Jigsaw RE explores the non-religious worldview of Humanism by focusing on its core principles, such as the importance of reason, ethics, and individual responsibility, while promoting human welfare and happiness. Lessons guide students to understand Humanism’s emphasis on living a fulfilling life without relying on religious beliefs, instead advocating for moral values based on human experience and rational thought. Through engaging discussions and activities, students learn about Humanist values such as compassion, equality, and social justice, and are encouraged to consider how these ideas can shape their own decisions and actions. Jigsaw RE helps students reflect on how Humanism contributes to building a fairer, more inclusive society, fostering critical thinking, empathy, and respect for others' beliefs.

Jigsaw RE introduces students to the worldview of Islam by exploring its core beliefs and practices, including the Five Pillars of Islam, the concept of submission to Allah, and the importance of community and charity. Lessons guide students through key teachings from the Qur'an and Hadith, focusing on themes such as justice, peace, and compassion. Jigsaw RE also encourages students to understand the role of prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage in a Muslim's life, and how these practices shape both individual and community life. Through engaging activities and discussions, students reflect on the importance of moral conduct, respect for others, and the pursuit of knowledge, helping them develop a deeper understanding of Islam and its contributions to global peace and social justice.

In Jigsaw RE, students explore the rich beliefs, practices, and traditions of Judaism through a series of enquiries tailored to different age groups. For younger children (ages 5-7), the focus is on introducing foundational Jewish concepts, such as the belief in one God, the covenant with Abraham, the significance of Moses and the Ten Commandments, and the practice of Shabbat. Students also learn about the synagogue and how it serves as a central place of worship and community for Jewish people.

As children progress to ages 7-9, they explore how Jewish teachings shape daily life, from the story of Passover and its symbolism in the Seder plate to the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world. They also learn about important festivals like Shavuot and Sukkot, as well as the kosher dietary laws.

Older students (ages 9-11) deepen their understanding of Jewish practices, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the role of the Torah in guiding Jewish life. They explore the significance of the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement, while also learning about Jewish rites of passage such as Bar and Bat Mitzvah. The curriculum also addresses how Shabbat is celebrated in different Jewish communities, highlighting the diversity within the faith. Throughout all enquiries, Jigsaw RE encourages reflection on the importance of kindness, respect, and community, helping students appreciate the diversity of beliefs and practices in the world.

Jigsaw RE introduces students to the worldview of Sanatana Dharma, often referred to as Hinduism, by exploring its key principles, such as the belief in dharma (righteous living), karma (the law of cause and effect), and moksha (spiritual liberation). Lessons cover foundational concepts like the nature of the divine, the roles of gods and goddesses, and the significance of sacred texts such as the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads. Through engaging activities, students learn about important practices in Sanatana Dharma, such as meditation, yoga, and festivals like Diwali and Holi. Jigsaw RE encourages reflection on values like non-violence (ahimsa), respect for all living beings, and the interconnectedness of life, helping students develop a deep respect for this ancient tradition and its teachings on personal growth, spiritual development, and harmony with the universe.

Jigsaw RE introduces students to the worldview of Sikhi (Sikhism) by exploring its core teachings, such as the oneness of God, the importance of service to others (seva), and the pursuit of equality and justice. Lessons cover the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, the significance of the Guru Granth Sahib, and key practices like prayer, meditation, and community service. Through engaging activities, students learn about important Sikh values, such as selflessness, honesty, humility, and the rejection of discrimination based on caste, gender, or race. Jigsaw RE helps students understand the relevance of these teachings in promoting peace, social justice, and compassion, while encouraging them to reflect on how Sikhi inspires a life of purpose, respect, and harmony with others.

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Why Choose Jigsaw RE?

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Fully resourced RE curriculum programme to meet your agreed syllabi.

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Assessment system built-in as standard, to effectively track learning progression (assessment exemplars included for moderation).

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Jigsaw’s renowned Owl Crew, used as distancing tools for RE delivery.

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Relevant mapping documents for each year group.

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Training library with CPD opportunities, live and recorded webinars and Jigsaw’s community area.

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Dedicated School Support and mentoring service.

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Key Skills and Outcomes for Every Child

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Critical Thinking

Children develop the ability to think critically about different worldviews, asking insightful questions and considering various perspectives to deepen their understanding of religious and non-religious beliefs.

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Empathy and Respect

Through exploring diverse beliefs and practices, students learn to empathize with others, fostering respect for cultural differences and the values that shape the world around them.

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Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

Jigsaw RE encourages students to reflect on their own beliefs and values, helping them grow as individuals while understanding how their personal worldview fits within the broader global context.

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Impact in Schools

The impact of Jigsaw RE in schools is profound, providing a structured and engaging approach to teaching Religious Education that fosters both academic and personal growth. By offering a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of worldviews, Jigsaw RE empowers students to think critically, empathise with others, and reflect on their own beliefs and values. The programme supports teachers by providing ready-to-use resources, professional development, and ongoing guidance, allowing them to confidently deliver high-quality RE lessons. As a result, Jigsaw RE not only enhances students’ understanding of diverse cultures and religions but also contributes to creating a more inclusive, respectful, and compassionate school environment.

FAQs

Absolutely! The Jigsaw RE Assemblies are grouped into the themes below but can be easily moulded into a focus on a stand-alone topic, specific to your school. These can be found in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Whole School > Assemblies.

The best place to begin is in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE. On the bottom left-hand side there is some initial information which you may find helpful called 'How is Jigsaw RE structured?' which gives you an outline of as to the structure and how to use Jigsaw RE. In Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Getting Started > Information, you can find lots of useful information on Jigsaw RE and how it works.

Whilst Discovery RE is medium term planning, purchased as a one-off payment and includes folders containing planning as well as access to an online Community Area, Jigsaw RE includes short term planning based on an online Portal which is paid for via an annual subscription. Jigsaw RE builds on, and develops Discovery RE, our previous RE Scheme, using most of the Discovery RE enquiry questions but improving them as well as adding many more enquiries. This includes weekly lesson plans with all the resources needed to deliver them, an integral assessment process and accompanying assemblies.

To evidence RE learning and progress, we encourage schools to make each child a Jigsaw RE Journal using the downloadable journal covers which can be found in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Whole School > Owl Crew and Journals. There are some ready-made with an age-group on the cover plus some generic ones for use with any year-group or for children to colour them in if you wish to personalise it.

The compressed zip files can be found in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Whole School > Knowledge Organisers. These knowledge grids draw out the spiral knowledge and skills progression within each Enquiry including the key vocabulary used and suggestions for Family Learning. You are also able to find these to download within each enquiry for each age group. For example, the Knowledge Organiser for Buddhism for the age range 5-7 can be found in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Ages 5-7 > Buddhism > Enquiry 1 > Knowledge Organisers. It is available to download as a Word document at the bottom.

You cannot directly edit the Jigsaw slides; however, the Replaceable Slides feature allows you to replace one of our standard slide images with your own, and/or write your own slide notes to replace our standard text. Information on how to use this feature can be found in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Community Area > Updates > Replaceable Slides. Once you have clicked the Edit icon will open the slide editor window. Jigsaw's standard lesson plan image and notes appear in the left-side column. The right-side of the window is for your replacement data. You can use the 'browse' button to search your own computer and upload your chosen slide image. We suggest using Microsoft PowerPoint.

We do! You will find the Optimise and Training area helpful, which can be found in Jigsaw > Materials > Jigsaw RE > Community Area > Optimise & Training > Jigsaw RE. In Jigsaw RE Explained, you can find an 'Introduction to Jigsaw RE' video and in Subject Leaders Webinars you can find our our three sessions specifically aimed at helping new subject leads.. You can book onto future sessions via the following link: https://jigsaweducationgroup.com/training-webinars/webinars.