Intent

At Trumps Green Infant School, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual creativity, interests, thoughts and ideas.

A high-quality Art and Design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them 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. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our many different communities on a local, national and global scale.

Implementation

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 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England. This provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each Key Stage.

Teachers plan lessons for their class using our progression of knowledge and skills document. The progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills/knowledge taught is progressive from year group to year group.

A variety of teaching approaches are used based on the teacher’s judgement to ensure lessons that are engaging, broad and balanced. We provide a variety of opportunities for art and design learning to take place inside and outside the classroom, making use of our outdoor learning areas.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials.
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas.
• Explore colour and use for a particular purpose.
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary.

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.

Impact

Teaching and learning is evaluated by learning walks conducted by subject leaders and SLT where applicable, drop-ins, planning and work scrutinies, moderation sessions and pupil interviews. It is our aim that all children will achieve age related expectations in Art & Design; ongoing assessments take place throughout the academic year, informing subsequent planning and enabling teachers to support and challenge pupils appropriately. Within Art and Design, we strive to instil an appreciation and enjoyment of the arts enriching each child’s learning experience.