Art and Design

Intent

At Walsh Memorial C of E Infant School, we value Art as a unique and important subject. We aim to ensure that our pupils receive a carefully considered Art curriculum that is accessible to all, whilst balancing the progression of key skills, with opportunities for self-expression and individuality. We teach art to stimulate creativity, imagination and as a way for children to make sense of the world they live in. We believe this can positively impact the quality of our children’s lives and their emotional wellbeing, both within and beyond school. We see Art and Design as a means to support learning in a range of ways and we exploit opportunities for cross-curricular links. We hope our children leave us with an awareness of how the creative arts shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our own and other nations.

Implementation

Our Art curriculum provides children with opportunities to develop their skills using a range of media and materials. Children learn the skills of drawing, painting, collage, textiles, sculpture and 3D art, and are given the opportunity to explore and evaluate different creative ideas. Children are emboldened to take risks and experiment, and are then encouraged to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and keep improving.

When producing their artwork, children experience working both individually and collaboratively. In The Early Years Foundation Stage, Art activities are ingrained across all topics, and children also enjoy ample opportunities for free exploration with a range of art and craft materials. In Key Stage One, Art units are blocked, which enables our children to become fully immersed in their learning.

The skills they acquire are applied to other subjects, allowing children to use their art skills to explore topics in greater depth- for example, by looking at the formation of snowflakes during our Science based ‘Winter Day’ or when producing collages based on ‘The Great Fire of London’ in History.

A wide range of significant and inspirational artists are explored across the year groups, including Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Wassily Kandinsky and Vincent Van Gogh. Strong PSHE links flow through the discussions surrounding these carefully selected artists, as we celebrate their diversity and boldness.

During their time with us a love for the Arts is championed further through special events such as whole school collaborative art projects, community art, Art Weeks, craft clubs and sewing club.

Impact

Through observations and discussions with our children, it is rewarding to see the positive attitudes they express for the Arts. Ongoing assessments take place throughout the year and teachers use this information to inform future lessons, ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately, these are reported to parents in their end of year report. Children in Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked term. Age related expectation levels are reported to parents at the end of the reception year.

Children are highly engaged in their lessons. Our children are always keen to learn new skills, and work hard to perfect those shown to them. Our Art curriculum successfully contributes towards our children becoming creative learners and creative thinkers, who have a developing knowledge about the great artists of the world. Through their art and design, the children are able to reach out into the community, with our pupils’ artwork proudly displayed in the local church, shop and cathedral.