At St John’s CE Primary School, we believe the arts are vital in developing the child as a whole, and a full and rich curriculum gives children the best early education possible. Art and Design is an important part of children’s education and has a significant and valuable role in the taught curriculum, as well as the enrichment opportunities it offers pupils.

Intent

Through the teaching of Art, we aim to develop the children’s ability to learn with confidence in two and three dimensions and on a variety of sizes and scales. Our Art lessons focus on developing children’s ability to create images, experiment with a wide range of different media to understand their potential, and to use art as a medium to express their world. Our Art curriculum will develop children’s critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of male and female artists.

The National Curriculum for Art and Design aims to ensure that all children:

• produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences

• become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques

• evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design

• know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and         

   cultural development of their art forms.

Implementation

Children will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed through a curriculum which enables children to reach their full potential. Access Art planning and teaching resources are used from EYFS to Year 6 to teach a comprehensive curriculum with a progression of both knowledge and skills. Art is taught as a discreet subject each week and, where appropriate, links are made to other subjects. Enrichment Days (such as a recent willow workshop, and a whole-school butterfly project linked to the church) provide opportunities for children to immerse themselves into art projects and experience new skills.

At St John’s, Sketchbooks are used from Year 1 to Year 6 and can provide a record of the children’s learning and progress. Although this is not an expectation for KS1, we believe it is important that all children have somewhere to express their ideas and develop techniques learnt. At the end of the year, children will take their sketchbooks to their new class where they will continue to expand on techniques and their appreciation of artists’ work.

The most important purpose of assessment in Art is as a formative tool to support teaching and learning in the classroom. An example of this might be gathering information about existing technical ability in a particular medium before beginning an activity. We need to be clear about what we want pupils to be able to do, and pupils need to know what we want from them. When this is clear and effectively communicated, assessment is easier and more effective.

We are proud to display children’s art and this can be seen on display throughout the school, giving pupils ownership of their educational environment and celebrating their art achievements. All staff take responsibility for developing arts and culture within the school.

Impact

Art contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. It encourages children to develop a sense of ownership over their work and reflect on their experiences through evaluating their progress and development. We regularly take part in whole school and community art projects and this work has been displayed throughout the school and town.

Art is included across each year group with a level of progression that supports and challenges our children so that they develop lively, creative, enquiring minds. We aim to provide our children with the skills and knowledge that will prepare them for successful, healthy lives in the ever-changing world that we live in.

Art and Design in the Early Years

From an early age, children are encouraged to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through art. They will do this by safely using and exploring a range of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Encouraging attitudes of curiosity and questioning as well as skills and techniques is important when supporting the progression of the children’s creativity and confidence in their ideas and skills.