Prayer and Liturgy Policy
Mission Statement
Working together to flourish in education and life, as children of God with unique individual worth. (St Roses Community June 2025)
St Rose’s is a Catholic Special school where we aim to live out our mission statement. Central to our policy for prayer and worship is the belief that: “Each of us is created in God’s image. God loves us as we are, with our own particular gifts and limitations, strengths and weaknesses. Christ’s liberating message of love and hope celebrates difference because He values each and every person as unique and equal.” Our task as a school community is to translate Christ’s message of inclusion into practical action, so that the contribution of each member is respected and nurtured. ( Valuing Difference 1998 Pg 3)
Legal Requirements
Education Reform Act 1988, as amended by the Education Act 1993
At St Rose’s we acknowledge the legal requirement that there must be a daily act of worship for all learners. This can take place at any time during the school day and can be either a single act of worship for all learners, or separate acts of worship in school groups. We acknowledge that Prayer and Liturgy and assembly are distinct activities. They may sometimes form part of the same gathering, but the difference between the two will always be made clear.
Religious worship is in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church. At all times the school serves as a witness to the Catholic Faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rights of Withdrawal
Parents/carers can choose to withdraw their child (up to the age of 16 years) from acts of Prayer and Liturgy. However, given the importance of Collective Worship in a Catholic school, parents and prospective parents need to be made aware of the fact that it can never be confined to timetabled slots but may take place in a variety of contexts other than those which are specifically structured.
Post 16 students can choose to withdraw themselves from Prayer and Liturgy (ref: School Standards and Framework Act 1998, s.71 (1B)).
“We aim to provide a variety of opportunities of meaningful worship which recognise the needs of the school community and encourages all to participate and thus develop their own journey of faith”.
(Philosophy of R. E. Department)
Students and staff are encouraged to participate and respond whether through active involvement in the presentation of the act of worship. This can be through words, songs, signs, objects and communication aids, through listening and participating. Such occasions strengthen our community spirit, promote a common ethos and shared values, as well as reinforcing positive attitudes.
Responsibility
(a) Governance
The governors, as guardians of the Catholic school’s life and mission, have a responsibility to ensure that:
• Prayer and liturgy are central to the Catholic life of the school and therefore are in line with the guidance set out by the Prayer and Liturgy Directory whilst recognising the specific needs of the school.
• There is a named person(s) who is responsible for prayer and liturgy in the school
• The prayer and liturgy policy is updated regularly and shared with all stakeholders
• There is a budget for prayer and liturgy that reflects its centrality to the life of a Catholic school.
(b) Principal
The Principal as the spiritual leader of the school as a Catholic community, ensures that:
• Prayer and liturgy are central to the Catholic life of the school and therefore are in line with the guidance set out by the Prayer and Liturgy Directory whilst recognising the specific needs of the school.
• They work in partnership with the leader(s) for prayer and liturgy
• Those responsible for prayer and liturgy in the school have been given appropriate training and formation to ensure that all guidance is followed and adhered to
• There are suitable resources for prayer and liturgy in the school.
(c) Prayer and Liturgy Coordinator
Those responsible for prayer and liturgy ensure that:
• Prayer and liturgy are central to the Catholic life of the school and therefore are in line with the guidance set out by the Prayer and Liturgy Directory whilst recognising the specific needs of the school.
• There is an Annual Plan of Provision for Prayer and liturgy across the school year which identifies liturgical seasons and key celebrations, as well as opportunities for the celebration of the Sacraments
• There is daily planned prayer for all pupils, appropriate to age and ability,
• Resources to support the planning of prayer and liturgy are appropriate and readily available to staff and pupils
• Induction on prayer and liturgy takes place for new members of staff as required
• Staff have access to effective training and formation opportunities
• Monitoring and evaluation of prayer and liturgy take place regularly and feed back into planning for future liturgies
• Monitoring of prayer and liturgy is reported to the Principal and Governing Body to support whole-school development and the Catholic life of the school
• There is collaboration with local clergy and parishes
• Liaison with the Diocesan Advisory Service and others is maintained to ensure they keep up-to-update with best practice.
Intent
At St Rose’s we aim for all to know and love Christ and to open the vision and imagination of the school community to the wonders of living in God’s world, and the responsibilities that follow. It is enshrined in the school’s Mission Statement.
Implementation
The act of Prayer and Liturgy is central to the life of our school and is an integral part of students’ faith formation. It is a way of affirming our identity, our individuality and our communal belonging to the Body of Christ. It is our loving response in word and action to God’s invitation to enter into a relationship with Him, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit. Through Prayer and Liturgy, we give glory, honour, praise and thanks to God.
Impact
1. Spiritual and Emotional Comfort
Sense of peace and calm: Prayer and liturgy provide moments of calm and reflection, which can be especially beneficial for our children who may experience anxiety or sensory overload.
Connection to God: it helps our children develop a personal relationship with God, offering comfort, hope, and reassurance.
Emotional expression: Structured prayer and liturgical participation gives our children ways to express emotions that might otherwise be hard to communicate.
2. Community and Social Inclusion
Belonging: Participating in communal prayer and liturgy fosters a sense of belonging to a faith community, reinforcing that each child is valued and included.
Shared experience: It creates opportunities for shared experiences, promoting social interaction and bonding among students, staff, and families.
Respect and empathy: Learning liturgical practices helps our children understand and respect religious traditions, encouraging empathy and tolerance.
3. Educational and Cognitive Development
Routine and structure: Regular liturgical activities provide structure and predictability, which is helpful for our children with cognitive or behavioral challenges.
Language and communication: Repetitive prayers, hymns, and responses aids language acquisition and memory for children at St Rose’s
Sensory engagement: Liturgy often involves music, movement, and visual symbols (candles, icons, gestures), which stimulates sensory development and helps our children engage on multiple levels.
4. Moral and Ethical Formation
Values education: Prayer and liturgy teach core Catholic values such as compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, and service.
Role models: Stories and prayers often highlight saints and biblical figures, providing role models for our children to emulate.
5. Empowerment and Self-Worth
Active participation: Adapted liturgies allow our children to participate actively, which boosts their confidence and self-esteem.
Sense of accomplishment: Even small roles in prayer or liturgical celebration gives our children a sense of achievement and importance.
Overview of Prayer and Liturgy provision
Mass
Mass is celebrated six times a year. Each term there is either a whole community Mass or a Chapel Mass. The whole community Mass is in term 1, 4 and term 6. Governors are invited and attend the whole community Mass. Students and staff participate and help to organise all the liturgies. Signing and symbols are used to help our young people participate in, understand and join in the liturgy. Training is given to support the clergy in simple signs which they could use in their sermons. A blessing is always offered to everyone.
Prayer Time
Regular times for prayer are set during the school day. Students are encouraged to feel at ease and to be still with God, in the quiet of their hearts and minds, and as part of their own class or a larger group. School classes begin and end each day with a prayer and Grace is said each day before the students eat their lunch. Prayer is encouraged with the availability of prayer areas in the classes where possible and inclusive resources in each class. The Chapel is open for prayer and praise each day.
Celebration of the Word/Assemblies
Whole school Celebration of the word is on a Monday. Singing is on a Tuesday. Class Celebration of the Word happens on Wednesday/Thursday and Certificate and Special Event Celebrations happen on a Friday.
Key Principles
Prayer and Liturgy at St Rose’s will:
• Be a quality experience, fundamental to the life of the school and its Catholic character
• Lead learners as far as is possible to a greater understanding of the word of God expressed in the Bible and religious stories
• Be inclusive
• Be short and appropriately paced
• Be simple, including a range of experiences offered in a variety of groupings and in a variety of settings. include singing, drama and other forms of participation
• Use a range of multisensory resources to gain and hold learners attention and include them spiritually in the liturgy
• Where possible and appropriate pupils will be encouraged to take an active part in prayer and share their thoughts
• Where possible and appropriate feedback from pupils on their experiences of prayer and liturgy will be sought.
Mutual Respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
We are a Catholic Special School, and Christ is at the heart of all we do. Our mission is to create a community of love and learning, and we are proud of the heritage of the founders of the school, The Dominican Sisters from The English Congregation of St Catherine of Siena who still own the school and college. Notwithstanding this, we welcome young people irrespective of their faith. We encourage our non – Catholic students to be proud of their differing beliefs and celebrate these within assemblies and at all opportunities. All students take a full and active part in the liturgy and faith celebrations, in daily prayers and rituals. Equally we are sensitive to where students may be less comfortable with this. Students are taught about equality and diversity consistent with their level of understanding. Staff monitor carefully the importance of understanding and support for individual’s beliefs, cultures and traditions especially through our safeguarding policies. We are aware that some people may be vulnerable to negative influences and will tackle this rigorously.
Students have many opportunities to learn about people from different cultures and faiths including through our links with other countries and through celebrating the multicultural nature of our school family, both staff and students. We also encourage our young people to develop their sense of charity and care for others, locally and globally.
Monitoring and evaluation of Prayer and Liturgy
Monitoring and evaluation of the quality and impact of prayer and liturgy will take place regularly, and at least annually, and involve all key stakeholders: pupils, parents, staff, clergy, and governors. Areas for development will be identified and issues raised will be actioned and evidenced as appropriate.
This policy is monitored by the RE Lead and is evaluated and reviewed by the SLT and governors.
The policy will be reviewed as part of the regular cycle of policy review conducted by the governors.
This Policy Statement is considered part of the Terms and Conditions of Employment for all staff at St Rose’s