“Let the children come to me….”
Matthew 19:14
The SALT Approach is a not-for-profit organisation promoting knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith through hands-on educational materials, opening the child to deep spiritual realities.
We carry out our mission specifically through the development and provision of unique programs and hands-on materials for use in the religious education of children.
Our methodology is underpinned by core pedagogies that allow for pondering, respect for the person and for choice-making.
The SALT Approach Facilitates
- Presenting the mystery of the Trinity in a clear and cohesive way to children.
- Fostering an intimate communion with Jesus Christ.
- Incorporating reflective time into the lives of students.
- Providing materials to engage the senses, using visible aids, to foster faith.
- The development and deepening of the educator's own understanding and faith.
Research Findings
A six-year study confirmed that:
- Children, given the opportunity, are drawn to the spiritual
- Teachers can become co-learners alongside the child, as they implement the SALT Approach
- SALT can work successfully within diversely populated schools and parishes.
- Systemic accountability demands can be met using SALT’s holistic structure.
- The SALT Approach offers a new paradigm for religious education, very much in harmony with cutting edge educational research.
Essential Elements
- A Trinitarian Christocentric, scripture-based approach with a focus on the Sacraments and the Liturgical Year.
- A Christian anthropological understanding of the human person, recognising each person’s integrity, transcendent value and eternal destiny.
- Core pedagogies that (a) permit pondering, (b) respect the person, and (c) allow for authentic freedom and choice. Teaching and learning sessions are structured to facilitate these core pedagogies.
- Addressing elements that impact negatively on free choice and self-regulated learning, which are fundamental to SALT.
- Facilitating the faith-formation of Catholic educators.
The SALT Approach History
The SALT Approach developed through doctoral research applying the work of Montessori, Cavalletti and Gerard O’Shea in the Catholic classroom. It emanated from a need to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering a viable approach for teaching and learning of religious education in contemporary Catholic schools.
Applying the pedagogy developed by Montessori, the Church’s liturgical year provides the SALT Approach with a comprehensive framework incorporating Scripture, Sacraments, Catholic teaching and prayer. The pedagogy can be applied to the entire religious education curriculum used in any diocese. Children ponder deeply as they engage with the Catholic faith in all its dimensions, applying it to their own lives. It offers physical materials, supporting booklets and tailored programmes.
The SALT Approach aims to free educators and parents to invest time into pondering, both for themselves and children. It is designed to support a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and through Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Opportunities are presented to enable a deep consideration of Scripture and Church Liturgy, within a climate conducive to prayerful reflection. There is significant evidence that, should conditions be right, children are capable of rapidly switching into the spiritual zone, quickly engaging in opportunities to pray and reflect, and finding quiet spaces to do so.
What People Say
Get In Touch
Fill out the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible!