Annual Plan of Provision for Prayer and Liturgy Plan
- Vision and purpose
At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, prayer and liturgy are the heart of school life and the foundation of our Catholic identity. Our vision is to grow together as children of God, inspired by Christ to love, learn and serve. This annual plan sets out the rhythms, responsibilities and experiences that help every child encounter Jesus, participate in the life of the Church, and live the Gospel through prayer, worship, learning and service.
- Key leadership and responsibilities
Parish Priest: Father Michael
RE Lead: Sarah Rushton
Senior leadership and staff: ensure fidelity to the liturgical year, high quality worship and consistent implementation across classes.
Faith Council: pupil leaders who support planning and delivery of worship, maintain sacred spaces and provide pupil voice on Catholic Life.
School Ambassadors: role models of Gospel values who welcome visitors, support younger pupils and represent St Mary’s at events.
Mini Vinnies: pupil group inspired by St Vincent de Paul who pray, reflect on the Gospel and plan charitable action and fundraising for those in need.
Pupil Worship Leaders and Class Leaders: support class and whole school worship and model reverent participation.
- Daily prayer in classrooms
Morning prayer to offer the day to God.
Grace before and after meals.
End of day prayer of thanksgiving and trust.
Regular opportunities for silence, scripture, spontaneous prayer and prayer journaling.
A sacred space in every classroom that changes with the liturgical seasons and includes the Bible, a crucifix, candle, appropriate cloth colour, and pupil contributions such as prayers and artwork.
- Revised weekly prayer and worship cycle
Monday
Whole School Liturgy led by the Headteacher. This liturgy introduces the Sunday Gospel, unpacks a key message for children and staff, and sets a simple mission to live during the week. It includes scripture, a short reflection, prayer and sending forth.
Tuesday
Whole School Singing focusing on hymns and liturgical songs used in Catholic worship. Pupils learn texts, responses, posture and reverent participation so they can sing and pray confidently at Mass and school liturgies.
Wednesday
Junior pupils plan and deliver Wednesday Word independently of their class teacher. They choose the gathering prayer, proclaim the Gospel, offer a pupil-prepared reflection or questions, set a response such as prayer, song, quiet reflection or a charitable action, and conclude with a mission. Staff observe for safeguarding and reverence but do not direct the worship.
Thursday
Celebration Assembly for the whole school with prayer, thanksgiving and recognition of individual and class achievements linked to the weekly mission. The Kind Hands Award is presented at the end of each month.
Friday
What’s in the News is also explored on Thursdays, applying a Catholic context to current events through Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching. Conversations draw on human dignity, solidarity, the common good and care for creation to help pupils understand the world with compassion and wisdom.
Monthly Kind Hands Award
Each month one child per class receives the Kind Hands Award for living the example of Jesus through kindness, care and compassion. Nominations may come from teachers, support staff, the Faith Council and School Ambassadors. The award is presented in the Thursday Celebration Assembly at month end, shared in the newsletter and displayed on a Kind Hands in Action board. Optional virtue themes may be used by month, for example welcome and belonging in September, care and mission in October, hope in November, joy and giving in December, peace in January, forgiveness in February, compassion in March, service in April, love in May, courage in June and gratitude in July.
- Pupil leadership in Catholic Life
School Ambassadors
Model Gospel values, support younger children, welcome visitors and represent St Mary’s at parish and community events. They assist with assemblies and special liturgies.
Faith Council
Meet regularly with the RE Lead to review worship quality, gather pupil voice, prepare sacred spaces, co-plan prayer stations and support class worship. They help evaluate Catholic Life and contribute to reports for governors.
Mini Vinnies
Mini Vinnies are quite literally mini St Vincent de Pauls. They meet weekly to pray, reflect on the Gospel and plan acts of service and fundraising guided by the See, Think, Do approach. Typical activities include supporting a food bank, writing cards for the housebound, leading kindness campaigns, and fundraising for local and global needs. Their work helps pupils understand Catholic social teaching in action and the preferential option for the poor.
- Wednesday Word pupil-led worship
Purpose
To form confident, faith-filled pupils who can proclaim scripture, lead prayer and apply the Gospel to daily life.
Planning process
Selection of the Gospel passage from Wednesday Word.
Preparation of a gathering that may include a candle, scripture display and a pupil-written prayer.
Proclamation of the Word with clear, reverent reading.
Pupil reflection using open questions, drama, artwork, or testimonies.
Response such as intercessions, quiet prayer, song, or a class action.
Go forth mission that is practical and age-appropriate.
Staff provide training and modelling early in the year to build independence, then step back to allow pupil ownership.
- Communication with families
At the beginning of every term the school shares an RE and Liturgy Overview outlining Religious Education topics, key scripture, big questions, feast days, planned liturgies, and ways families can pray and support learning at home. Information is sent via newsletter and digital platforms and is available on the school website. Families are invited to liturgies, services, class worship showcases and curriculum assemblies where appropriate. - Seasonal and liturgical provision by term
Autumn Term
September
Welcome Liturgy for pupils, staff and families to dedicate the year to God.
Recruitment and commissioning of School Ambassadors, Faith Council and Mini Vinnies.
RE and Liturgy Overview shared with families.
Staff formation on pupil-led worship, sacred spaces and use of scripture.
October
Month of the Holy Rosary including weekly class or whole school Rosary.
Harvest liturgy and fundraising for CAFOD or local charities.
Mini Vinnies launch of first service project.
November
All Saints Mass in school or parish.
All Souls remembrance prayer for the faithful departed.
Remembrance liturgy and silence at the eleventh hour.
Development of pupil-led class worship with peer feedback.
Advent and December
Weekly Advent wreath prayers with children leading the lighting and prayers.
KS1 Nativity and KS2 Carol Service.
Reconciliation service for KS2 with an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation where appropriate.
Charity focus for Advent such as gifts for the housebound or a local appeal.
Spring Term
January
Epiphany liturgy and a focus on Christ the light of the world.
Renewal of classroom sacred spaces for Ordinary Time.
Termly RE and Liturgy Overview sent to families.
February
Ash Wednesday liturgy with Father Michael to begin Lent.
Introduction to Lenten period and prayer opportunities.
March
Stations of the Cross at age-appropriate levels.
Holy Week liturgies in school for Palm Sunday, the Last Supper and Good Friday reflections.
Summer Term
April and May
Eastertide celebration liturgy.
May Procession in honour of Our Lady with hymns, flowers and rosary.
First Holy Communion preparation support where appropriate in partnership with the parish.
Termly RE and Liturgy Overview shared with families.
June
Pentecost celebration with prayer stations or pupil-led reflections on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Pupil Led Worship Week with pupils leading all collective worship across the school.
Weekly Curriculum Assemblies continue during this term, each one beginning with pupils sharing what they are learning in Religious Education before showcasing wider curriculum learning from every year group.
July
Transition liturgies for EYFS, KS1 and KS2 welcoming new beginnings and entrusting pupils to God’s care.
End of year Thanksgiving Mass.
Year Six Leavers’ Mass.
Year Six Diocesan Thanksgiving Service at Shrewsbury Cathedral with other Year Six pupils from across the Diocese. This service gathers pupils to give thanks for their primary years, to receive a blessing for secondary school and to experience the wider diocesan family. Father Michael supports pupils’ preparation and participation.
End of year Catholic Life evaluation and planning for the following year.
- Whole school curriculum assemblies in the summer term
A weekly Curriculum Assembly is held during the summer term. Each assembly begins with children sharing their current Religious Education learning through scripture, key questions, reflections or creative responses. Each year group then presents a brief snapshot of learning from a different subject area. This rhythm celebrates excellence, strengthens pupil voice and reinforces the central place of RE within the whole curriculum. - Sacramental preparation and parish partnership
School liturgies and Religious Education lessons and parental communication support children’s understanding and joyful participation in the sacraments. - Sacred spaces and resources
Every classroom and key shared areas display a sacred space that reflects the liturgical season and is maintained by pupils with Faith Council support. Suggested items include scripture quotations, seasonal artefacts, pupil-written prayers and symbols of current themes. Resources used across the year may include a lectionary or children’s Bible, Wednesday Word, simple worship planning templates, CAFOD and diocesan materials, hymnals and approved hymn lists used in the parish. - Staff formation and professional development
September
Training on leading class worship, using the Gather, Listen, Respond, Go Forth model and establishing sacred spaces.
Mid-year
Workshop on developing pupil leadership in worship and formative feedback approaches for pupil-led liturgy.
Pre-Lent
Briefing on Ash Wednesday, Lenten practices, Reconciliation and age-appropriate Holy Week liturgies.
Ongoing
Coaching by the RE Lead, sharing of good practice and planning clinics for staff who wish to deepen their approach to prayer and liturgy. - What’s in the News and Catholic Social Teaching
Each Thursday the school explores current events in an age-appropriate way through a Catholic lens. Teachers frame discussions using principles of Catholic Social Teaching including human dignity, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, option for the poor and care for creation. Pupils are supported to respond with empathy, pray for those affected and consider age-appropriate actions that promote peace, justice and hope. - Monitoring, evaluation and governance
RE Lead monitoring
Termly reviews of class worship, sacred spaces and pupil-led worship using simple evaluation tools.
Pupil voice
Faith Council consultations and short pupil surveys on prayer, worship and Catholic Life.
Governor and parish engagement
Link governor visits focusing on Catholic Life and Collective Worship. Input and feedback from Father Michael after key liturgies and seasons.
Reporting
An end of year evaluation summarising strengths, areas for growth, pupil voice and impact measures such as participation, leadership opportunities, scripture understanding and lived mission. Findings inform the next year’s action plan. - Roles and responsibilities overview
Headteacher
Leads Monday whole school liturgy, models high standards of worship and sets the weekly mission.
RE Lead, Sarah Rushton
Oversees the annual plan, supports staff, trains pupil leaders, liaises with Father Michael, monitors provision and reports to governors.
Teachers and support staff
Facilitate daily class prayer, oversee Wednesday and Friday worship, teach and model reverent participation, and integrate Catholic values across the curriculum.
Pupil leaders
Faith Council members, School Ambassadors, Mini Vinnies and class worship teams lead aspects of prayer, liturgy and mission throughout the year. - Appendices and practical tools for implementation
Wednesday Word pupil planning checklist
Choose the Gospel reading and prepare a simple scripture display.
Write or choose an opening prayer and decide who will lead it.
Plan how the Gospel will be proclaimed.
Prepare a short reflection or questions to help others think about what Jesus is saying.
Decide on a response such as intercessions, quiet prayer, a hymn, artwork or a small class action.
Set a clear go forth mission for the week.
Rehearse roles and ensure a calm, reverent pace.
- Celebration Assembly and Kind Hands Award flow
Opening prayer.
Review of the weekly mission and thanksgivings.
Recognition of achievements including Christian service and witness.
Presentation of the Kind Hands Award at month end with a brief reason shared.
Closing prayer and simple mission reminder. - RE and Liturgy Overview content for families each term
Topic titles and key questions.
Core scripture references.
Liturgical events and dates.
Charity or mission focus.
Suggestions for home prayer, discussion and shared acts of service.
Key hymns or responses pupils are learning.
This single, detailed plan integrates daily and weekly rhythms, seasonal liturgies, pupil leadership, communication with families, parish partnership and robust monitoring. It is designed to be practical for staff, meaningful for pupils and faithful to the Catholic life and mission of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, under the pastoral care of Father Michael and the leadership of the RE Lead, Sarah Rushton.