By looking through the lens of Growing Faith we want to grow our relationship with schools. We are here to serve schools in their work caring for and educating children. Our work should be more than 'doing assemblies; although that is an important part of school life, we want our relationship with schools to be deeper than that.
Blessing your school with our presence will come in many forms, your church will have its own unique style of engagement, different people will bring different perspectives.
There are many ways in which the church can help schools in their work. Perhaps through helping create a Happiness Club after school to encourage ways to promote well being; listening to children as they read; supporting a gardening club to teach children where food comes from and how to care for the environment we live in; an assembly club to share assemblies in school and in church on Sunday; supporting vulnerable families in need of help; volunteering to be on the board of governors; being an active member of friends of the school committees. We want to be a known and trusted member of your school to help faith grow. Visit the Church of England Faith at Home web page for more information.
How does our church make the initial contact with school?
Download a Guide to Contacting Schools here (pdf). and Top Tips for Blessing Schools here
Making prayer spaces in school and home
Create interactive prayer spaces for children at school, and replicate in church, so that the children recognise the same space in both locations. Find out more here.
Jumping Fish Publications
Supports the links that can be forged between church and school. These resources include Experience Journeys, a way to share Christian faith stories by setting up the church building/outdoor space/school using multi-sensory activities, prayers and worship resources. Access the resources here.
Filmed Assemblies
There are a number of free 'filmed assembly' resources available for use, add your own personal message to the children and young people in your schools.
Films by Charlotte Nobbs of Bible stories & assemblies These can be personalised by your church team for your local school.
- Download free Bible Story films on the Max7 website here.
Wonderful retelling of Bible story films but with a small fee:
Bible stories by Saddleback Kids (click here).
Tales from the Miracle book - not a free resource, but fun story-telling - these can be accessed here.
Linking from school to the classroom or home
Ideas for school to feed home to parents (or through an After School Club) to further explore Bible stories, using Bible mats and other resources: click here for these resources.
Together@home: Great ideas for shaping assemblies and for follow-up resources in class/at home. Access the resources here.
Planning Assemblies
Big start assemblies – some free samples, but need to pay a fee to download all the resources. Access the resources here.
Good examples of secondary school assemblies by CROPS on YouTube. Watch the videos here.
Book resource - 10 minute assemblies for 4-11s – 50: themed assemblies for instant use, straightforward and easy to use with minimal preparation.
Faith in kids has many ideas and resources. Access these here.
Barnabas in schools have free resources to explore topics. Access the resources here.
Happiness Clubs
50 Ways to feel happy
An action-packed, illustrated book which helps children build happiness skills and develop helpful habits for their daily lives.
Find out more on the Action for Happiness website here.