INTENT

At St Michael’s Primary School we want children to really enjoy their art work and take pleasure and pride in their achievements. We believe that Art and Design is important as it stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences, and a special way of understanding and responding to the world. It enables children to communicate what they see, feel and think, through the use of colour, texture, form and pattern. Children become involved in shaping their environments through art and design activities. They learn to make informed judgements, and aesthetic and practical decisions. The appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts enriches all our lives which is reflected in the individuality of children's sketchbooks and in our wonderful displays around school.

We believe it is important for all children to have the opportunity to:

• develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of the processes involved in producing a piece of artwork.
• record from first-hand experience and from imagination, and to select their own ideas to use in their work.
• develop creativity and imagination through a range of activities.
• freely explore and improve their own ability to control materials, tools and techniques.
• increase their critical awareness of the roles and purposes of art and design in different times and cultures.
• foster an enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts, and a knowledge of artists, craftspeople and designers.

IMPLEMENTATION

At St Michael’s Primary School, our planning focuses on the development of key skills and knowledge of artists and media. We ensure that the children develop their skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and printing across the Key Stages and a range of artists are linked to each unit of work. Medium Term Planning defines what will be taught and ensures an appropriate balance, distribution of work and progression of skills across each year group. St Michael's knowledge organisers have been designed specifically to support our children's development in the subject by introducing them to artists, works of art, key vocabulary, skills and techniques.

For each topic, we ensure that the children have time to explore and develop their skills using different materials and processes, recording their ideas in their sketchbooks. These skills and ideas are then drawn together to form a final piece. Teachers encourage children to evaluate their own ideas and methods, and the work of others, saying what they think and feel about them and developing their own work continuously throughout the unit.

Opportunity is given for the children to work by themselves, and in collaboration with others, on projects in two and three dimensions, and at different scales.

Early Years Foundation Stage

In the EYFS, we have a rich environment in which we encourage and value creativity. All children have regular opportunities to engage with the arts through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. Activities are developed with cross-curricular links which encourage the children to make connections between one area of learning and another, and so extend their understanding.

We relate the children’s creative development to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning. The children’s learning through Expressive Arts and Design includes opportunities to:

• develop artistic and cultural awareness.
• explore and play with a wide range of media and materials.
• develop the knowledge to safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques.
• experiment with colour, design, texture, form and function.
• share and discuss their ideas and creations with adults and peers.

Key Stage One

During Key Stage One pupils develop their creativity and imagination by exploring the visual, tactile and sensory qualities of materials and processes. They learn about the role of art, craft and design in their environment. They begin to understand colour, shape and space and pattern and texture and use them to represent their ideas and feelings.
 

Key Stage Two
During Key Stage Two pupils develop their creativity and imagination through more complex activities. These help to build on their skills and improve their control of materials, tools and techniques. They increase their critical awareness of the roles and purposes of art, craft and design in different times and cultures. They become more confident in using visual and tactile elements and materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think.

Assessment and Monitoring

Our knowledge organisers inform both staff and children about the key skills and knowledge which will be taught and assessed throughout each topic. This is achieved by observing the children working during lessons and monitoring their work in sketchbooks. During final project work we give children the opportunity to apply independently all the knowledge and skills taught and then teachers assess their attainment in line with yearly subject expectations. Overall learning is then used to inform future planning.

The monitoring of the standards of children’s work and of the quality of teaching in Art and Design is the responsibility of the subject leader. The subject leader gives the Headteacher a termly and annual summary report in which s/he evaluates the strengths and weaknesses in Art and Design, and indicates areas for further improvement. Dedicated training sessions across the year have supported staff in their professional development and improved outcomes for children within Art and Design.

IMPACT

The structure of Art and Design at St Michael’s Primary School is designed to encourage and develop every child’s confidence and ability to be an artist, to feel excited about their learning and to explore their creativity. Each child will have an ever-developing understanding of work by various artists from a range of times and cultures. They will be able to share their knowledge and apply the skills to their own work and understand how to continuously review, modify and develop their ideas, using their sketchbooks as a base to explore.

The opportunity for children to develop and refine their skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and printing through their time at St Michael’s Primary School is supported by effective lesson sequencing which shows evidence of progression between year groups. Along with these Art and Design specific skills, we want children to develop a passion and interest in Art and Design together with developing confidence, resilience and self-evaluation skills.

The Subject Leader for Art and Design in school is Mrs De Waele. The Link Governor for Art and Design is Mr Mc Callum.

If you have any further questions about Art and Design in school, the subject leaders can be contacted via the school switchboard or via WEDUC.

Here are some links to some great Art and Design websites: