Intent
At Plymtree C of E Primary, we place a great emphasis on the importance of Art and Design. We believe that the subject’s ability to provide both a platform for self-expression and an opportunity for self-reflection makes it essential for our children’s personal, social, emotional development and mental well-being.
The subject embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity and possesses the ability to broaden our children’s horizons, give them the means and opportunity to learn about the wider world of art and ultimately kindle an appreciation of the arts that will last a lifetime.
Our Art and Design curriculum is designed to excite, engage, inspire and challenge pupils; encouraging them to take risks and experiment in a ‘safe’ environment where there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’
Children will be introduced to a range of works and develop an understanding of the styles and vocabulary used by famous artists. They will explore how art and design reflects and shapes our history, contributes to the creativity and wealth of our nation and how it has impacted on contemporary life and different cultures.
The subject will equip children with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design.
Our curriculum drivers aim to:
* Promote the use of non-fiction texts to explore artists and artwork.
* Explore self-expression in the form of art. Asking enquiry questions related to pieces of art to broaden their understanding and discussion of techniques and personal preference.
* Explore the potential of age appropriate software to create art, including drawing.
* Promot thee potential of art as a therapeutic exercise in self-expression.
Implementation
Our Plymtree C of E Primary Art and Design curriculum is based upon the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each Key Stage. The teaching is linked to topics to ensure a well-structured approach to this creative subject.
In the EYFS children develop their imagination, creativity and ability to use a variety of media and materials. Children experiment with colour, design, texture, form and function through child-initiated and adult-directed activities. In the Early Years there is continuous provision of art and design opportunities.
Teaching of Art and Design in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Our children develop the prerequisite skills for art within the national curriculum through the ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ area of learning.
Pupils are taught:
- To explore colour and how colours can be changed (30 – 50 months)
- To understand that they can use lines to enclose a space and then begin to use these shapes to represent objects (30 – 50)
- To begin to be interested in and describe the texture of things (30 – 50)
- To develop a preference for forms of expression (30 – 50)
- To notice what adults do, imitating what is observed and then doing it spontaneously when the adult is not there (30 – 50)
- To capture experiences and responses with a range of media, such as music, dance and paint and other materials or words (30 – 50)
- To explore what happens when they mix colours (40 – 60 months)
- To experiment to create different textures (40 – 60)
- To understand that different media can be combined to create new effects (40 – 60)
- To manipulate materials to achieve a planned effect (40 – 60)
- To construct with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources (40 – 60)
- To use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately (40 – 60)
- To select the appropriate resources and adapt work where necessary (40 – 60)
- To select tools and techniques needed to shape, assemble and join materials they are using (40 – 60)
- To create simple representations of events, people and objects (40 – 60)
- To choose particular colours to use for a purpose (40 – 60)
- To safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function (Early Learning Goal)
- To use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories (ELG)
Teaching of Art and Design in Key Stage 1
Pupils are taught:
- to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
- to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences
and imagination
- to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture,
line, shape, form and space
- about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the
differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making
links to their own work.
Teaching of Art and Design in Key Stage 2
Pupils are taught:
- to creat sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
- to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
- about great artists, architects and designers in history.
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in art and design, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.
Art and design is taught as part of a half-termly or termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. Teachers follow the children’s interests whenever possible to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced. A variety of teaching approaches are used based on the teacher’s judgement.
Teaching is done in whole class groups followed by group and individual work. New techniques and skills are modelled and examples of work are shown to the children. Wherever possible first-hand experiences and real things are used to stimulate art and design activities.
Lessons involve studying existing pieces of art, sketching aspects of these, with a particular focus on the necessary skills, before completing a final piece. The children are then given constructive feedback and next steps, with further opportunities to improve their work and ensure that the skills are being developed. Pupils are involved in evaluating their work, celebrating success and identifying areas for improvement. The evidence of their work is collected within their art sketch book, along with photographs of larger, group or 3D pieces.
Art activities are differentiated to ensure that all pupils can access the tasks and have an appropriate level of challenge. Pre-teaching and intervention support is provided for those children who may require it. Pupils with particular talents are given opportunities to extend them. Art and design provides excellent opportunities to enhance the learning of more able pupils through the investigations, analysing sources and writing extending pieces.
Cross-curricular opportunities for further learning and development in the arts are built into planning of all subjects as a means of enhancing the children’s learning opportunities. These may be in the form of visiting performing arts groups, museums, galleries and other venues.
Alongside our curriculum provision for art and design, we also provide all pupils with the opportunity to participate in art based after school clubs. Pupils are consulted termly about which clubs they would like to be offered.
Impact
We measure the impact of our art and design curriculum through the following methods:
- Assessing children’s understanding of topic linked vocabulary before and after the unit is taught
- Pupil discussions about their learning; which includes discussion of their thoughts, ideas, processing and evaluations of work
- Looking at pupil’s work in their books
- Moderation staff meetings where pupil’s books are scrutinised and there is the opportunity for a dialogue between teachers
- Moderating children’s work with the other schools in our federation
- Summative assessment of pupil discussions about their learning to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately
- Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum
- Foundation Stage children’s progress in the ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ area of learning is assessed on a termly basis and age related expectation levels are reported to parents at the end of the reception year.
We believe that Plymtree C of E Primary’s art and design curriculum will make our children creative learners, who have a web of knowledge about the great artists of the world and can and apply this knowledge to their own work.
Our children will embed the key art and design skills needed to allow them to produce inventive pieces of art. The opportunity for children to refine and develop their techniques over time will be supported by effective lesson sequencing and progression between year groups. This will support children in achieving age related expectations at the end of their cohort year.
A consistent use of children’s art and design sketchbooks will mean that they are able to review, modify and develop their initial ideas in order to achieve high quality outcomes.
The high-quality classroom and school wide displays will be another impact of an effective art and design curriculum. These displays will reflect the children’s sense of pride in their artwork, celebrate their artistic achievements and demonstrate the subject’s high status in the school.