Art and Design
Art and Design Curriculum Statement
“Art is a line around your thoughts”. Gustav Klimt
Intent
Art and Design has an important place in our curriculum, we see it as a vehicle for creativity and individual expression. Art and Design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. Our curriculum for Art and Design aims to ensure that all pupils can:
- Produce creative work, explore their ideas and record 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 form.
Art and design activity enriches children’s learning and enables them to communicate their thoughts, ideas and observations in a practical and expressive way. In talking about art and evaluating their own and others’ work, children are encouraged to develop their visual language, ideas and feelings. Through experience of a variety of materials, tools and techniques children have the opportunity to record creatively the world around them.
We have eight key priorities at Abbey Village that underpin every subject area. We believe that by focusing on these key priorities our children will be ready to successfully meet the challenges of the next stage of their education and their lives.
Implementation
Early years:
In reception, expressive art and design is a specific area of the Early years programme. There are two Early Learning goals within this specific area: Exploring using media and materials and Being Imaginative.
At Abbey Village Primary School, we help children in the Early Years to be creative by encouraging their natural curiosity and questioning. Children are supported to notice everything and closely observe the most ordinary things. We build on children’s interests and support them to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas through art and design. We encourage children to explore and use materials and resources in an open-ended way so that they can make choices and have confidence in their own ideas. Careful interactions with experienced adults who express an interest in the process a child has gone through and asks open questions such as ‘Can you tell me about it – that looks interesting’ helps children flourish and develop their amazing imaginations and creativity.
Key Stage One and two:
Here at Abbey Village Primary School, we ensure that sufficient time is given to Art and Design, in order to enable pupils to meet the expectations set out in the National Curriculum programme of study. The Art and Design curriculum is coherent and shows progression, allowing time for children to take inspiration from many artists and designers and to develop ideas and master techniques. In addition to curriculum time, we also have an art and craft club where we work with parents and professionals from our local community to develop our art, craft and design knowledge and skills.
Impact
At Abbey Village Primary School, we want our Art and Design provision to impact our children in the ways listed below. We want our children to become artistic, creative and critical thinkers. In order to achieve that, our children will show:
- The ability to use visual language skilfully and convincingly to express emotions, interpret observations, convey insights and accentuate their individuality.
- The ability to communicate fluently in visual and tactile form.
- The ability to draw confidently and adventurously from observation, memory and imagination.
- Confident to explore and invent marks, develop and deconstruct ideas and communicate perceptively and powerfully through purposeful drawing in 2D,3D or digital media.
- A growing knowledge and understanding of artists, craft makers and designers.
- The ability to think and act like creative practitioners by using their knowledge and understanding to inform, inspire and interpret ideas, observations and feelings.
- Initiative, independence and originality to develop their creativity.
- The ability to select and use materials, processes and techniques skilfully and inventively to realise intentions and capitalise on the unexpected.
- How to reflect on, analyse and critically evaluate their own work and that of others.
Useful links for Children to explore Art & Design
https://www.nga.gov/learn/kids-app.html
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/teacher-category/art/