In this section of the website, you will find information about our approach to teaching Art & Design at Howletch Lane Primary School.
Intent
At Howletch Primary School, we believe that the arts are vital in developing the child as a whole and supports the delivery of an inspiring environment that 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 we offer our pupils.
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. During art sessions we concentrate on developing children’s ability to create images, experiment with a wide range of different media to understand their potential and use art as a medium to give expression of 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 considered 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 by providing a curriculum which will enable children to reach their full potential.
We teach a skills-based art curriculum, which gives opportunities for children to express their creative imagination and use artwork to record ideas, observations and experiences. Through delivering a spiral curriculum, children are given the opportunity to practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles and sculpture.
Sketchbooks are used effectively across KS1 and KS2 here at Howletch Primary School and are invaluable when auditing current provision and can provide a record of the children’s learning and progress of art in school. Although this is not an expectation for KS1, all children have somewhere to express their ideas and develop techniques learnt. Children will take their sketchbooks with them at the end of the year to their new class where they will continue to expand on techniques and their appreciation of artists’ work.
Upon entry into the school, children’s art can be seen on display, giving them ownership of their educational environment and celebrating their art achievements. All staff take responsibility for developing arts and culture within the school and are held accountable for this through regular audits and sketchbook scrutinies.
Impact
We ensure that art is included across each year group within every topic of learning, 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.
