“Art is not just a subject to learn, but an activity that you can practise with your hands, your eyes, your whole personality.”

Quentin Blake, Children’s Laureate

Intent

At St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, we believe that all children are entitled to a broad and balanced curriculum which includes chances to develop and innovate their creativity. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to improve and extend their creative skills and will give them the chance to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas.

We aim to provide a high-quality art and design education that engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them with a breadth of knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. Critical thinking and a deep understanding of Art and Design are key skills that children at St Peter’s Church of England Primary School will develop through a broad range of opportunities.

Imagination, risk-taking and collaboration are all part of developing their creativity, and will be fundamental in the planning and execution of Art and Design projects. These projects will enable pupils to create art work that is purposeful and showcases the knowledge and skills they have acquired. Their work will create opportunities for reflection and acknowledging the progress that they have made.

Implementation

At St Peter’s our Art curriculum provides a clear and comprehensive scheme of work that will show progression of skills and knowledge across all key stages. The curriculum will allow children to be both supported and challenged.

The development of their knowledge and skills starts in Reception, where they are exposed to colour, textures and materials. They are encouraged to work independently and select their own resources. This experimentation leaves them well equipped to build on their skills and knowledge as they progress through the school.

During Key Stage One, children will begin to use sketchbooks and these are used to assess the children’s previous learning and progression. They are also used as a ‘safe space’ where the children can experiment with and explore different techniques and ideas.

In lessons, we will encourage children to explore ideas and meanings through the work of a range of artists and designers. These lessons will be based on the National Curriculum and often will be linked to other areas of the curriculum to ensure a well-structured approach. They will be able to celebrate different times and cultures. Lessons will encourage experimentation, imagination and critical thinking. As they move up the school, their knowledge and skills will be built upon according to the National Curriculum.

Pupils will have opportunities to reflect on, and evaluate, what they are doing in most lessons. They will be taught how to use key art terms and vocabulary (e.g. colour, contrast, pattern, texture and form etc).

Art and Design Knowledge and Skills Progression

Inclusion

We recognise that children are all unique and different so we provide suitable learning opportunities for all pupils by matching the challenge of the task to the ability of the child.

This is achieved by using a range of strategies such as:

• setting open-ended tasks
• providing challenges
• using additional adults to support groups or individual children
• allowing children to select their own tools

Useful Links

Art for Kids Hub - A website where you can find step by step instructions for all sorts of pictures!

BBC Bitesize - Another site where your child can learn about different artists, play art games and follow instructions on how to make a variety of different things.

Land Art for Kids - This site is full of art and nature activities for children. 

Tate Kids - Children can follow instructions to make different things, play art games and quizzes and explore and read about the work of well-known artists.

Click here to return to the Curriculum Information page