Art
“Every child is an artist.” – Pablo Picasso
Art Lead - Miss B Rollason
Art is incredibly important to our children as it gives them a chance to express themselves in a variety of ways.
‘When children learn to visualise through careful observation and imagine, this can extend into other areas of their learning.’ Agarwal, P 2017
By making observations, questioning artists’ work and the discussions that follow, children are enabled to engage in activities which not only help their fine motor skills but also their social, emotional and cognitive skills.
Intent
At St Dennis Primary Academy, we believe that every child is an artist. Our art curriculum is designed to inspire creativity, curiosity and self-expression whilst developing the knowledge and skills needed to become confident artists, designers and makers. Through studying a diverse range of artists, sculptors, craft makers and designers, pupils learn how art reflects and shapes the world around us.
Our curriculum enables children to explore, experiment and take creative risks across a range of disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, collage and craft. As pupils progress through the school, they develop increasing control, technical proficiency and artistic independence. We aim for children to understand that art is a process of exploration and refinement rather than simply producing a final outcome.
Through art, pupils learn to observe closely, think critically, solve problems creatively and communicate ideas visually. They develop an appreciation of artistic achievement across cultures and throughout history whilst building the confidence to discuss, evaluate and reflect upon their own work and that of others. By the time they leave St Dennis Primary Academy, pupils will have the knowledge, skills and vocabulary to create purposeful artwork, articulate their artistic choices and view themselves as creative individuals.
Implementation
Art is taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum that ensures progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6. The curriculum is organised around six key artistic disciplines:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Printing
- Collage
- Craft and Design
Within each discipline, pupils revisit and build upon prior learning, developing increasingly sophisticated techniques, understanding and control of materials and processes. Key vocabulary is explicitly taught and revisited to support pupils in discussing, evaluating and refining their work.
All units follow St Dennis Primary Academy's six-step artistic process:
- Artist – pupils explore and study the work of artists, designers, sculptors or craft makers.
- Imitate – pupils practise and replicate techniques demonstrated by artists.
- Experiment – pupils explore materials, tools and processes, developing technical proficiency.
- Plan – pupils record ideas, observations and designs within their sketchbooks.
- Create – pupils apply their knowledge and skills to produce a final piece of artwork.
- Evaluate – pupils reflect upon their work, critique outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
This process is supported through the consistent use of sketchbooks from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2. Sketchbooks provide a space for exploration, experimentation, annotation, reflection and the development of personal ideas. As pupils progress, they move from simple observations and recordings towards increasingly detailed analysis and evaluation using subject-specific vocabulary.
Practical experiences form the heart of our curriculum. Pupils learn to use a wide range of tools, materials and media with increasing confidence and skill, including paint, clay, wire, textiles, printing equipment, graded pencils, charcoal and mixed media. They are taught how to use these safely, effectively and creatively.
Throughout the curriculum, pupils study a diverse range of artists and artistic movements and are encouraged to make connections between these and their own work. Opportunities for discussion, comparison and evaluation enable children to develop as reflective learners and thoughtful critics.
By revisiting key concepts and skills over time, the curriculum ensures that pupils retain knowledge, develop artistic fluency and gain the confidence to communicate ideas creatively through visual media. This enables all children to succeed and make progress as artists throughout their primary education.
Impact
Our art and design curriculum is high quality, well-thought-out and is planned to demonstrate progression. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills and discreet vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work. We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
- Children's evaluations
- Assessing children’s understanding of topic linked vocabulary before and after the unit is taught
- Images and videos of the children’s practical learning
- Interviewing the pupils about their learning - pupil voice
- Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum
SEND
Appropriate seating arrangements allow all children in the class to communicate, respond and interact with each other and the teacher. Working in pairs and small groups allows opportunities for discussion, peer support and collaboration when working on projects.
Our resources are made accessible through clear labelling in large print which also includes images to encourage independent use. The use of displays of finished or ongoing work is informative and engaging and used as a resource for teaching and learning. Multisensory approaches and children's preferred learning styles are identified and built on. A range of approaches are used to support teacher talk, including visual aids and alternative communication modes, such as sign or symbol systems.
Children are made aware of any health and safety issues relating to the use of equipment and children, with less awareness of dangers, are closely monitored to ensure they are engaging in the activities safely.
We provide planning support through consulting children wherever possible, about the type and level of support they require. Children who have sensory needs or are averse to handling certain materials (such as clay or chalk) are provided with plastic gloves in order for them to feel comfortable taking part. Children who have sensitivity to light are included by ensuring interactive whiteboards are non-reflective to reduce glare. Support from additional adults is planned to scaffold children’s learning, allowing them, increasingly, to work independently.
How does art promote British Values?
Art lessons provide an opportunity for pupils to engage in making art and, at the same time reinforce the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs in an exciting and visual way.
Examples include the portraiture work Year 2 engage upon when exploring their topic relating to the Monarchy. Their Portraits of the Queen are used as a means to teach about British democracy, the history of our democracy and links to the past. This unit also links to the teaching of the rule of law and how laws are made. All year groups also have an art lesson related to Remembrance. Using various media with objects related to, or symbolic reference to, Remembrance reinforces the British value of individual liberty.
As well as the art links with RE and the opportunities to create artwork therein, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs can be seen linked to the Year 3 topic, ‘What makes Great Britain great?’ Here the children create paintings in the style of Kandinsky to incorporate the five main world religious symbols within the painting. This is to symbolise respect for different faiths and beliefs and to show that they are all equally respected in Britain.
How does art promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development?
Our children are encouraged to question the way in which the world works within our own society and that of other cultures. For example, children’s work exploring Egyptian and African Art uses a visual language in response to beliefs and tradition and this aids the promotion of the spiritual growth of our pupils. In our art lessons, pupils are given opportunities and resources to investigate the subjects deeper, which in turn deepens their own understanding. Through our milestones for progression, pupils are introduced to the work of great artists and experience wonder and awe at the achievements of these great works of art. This helps to promote the belief that pupils can communicate their own ideas, meanings and feelings in their own artworks.
Art provides our children with the opportunities to explore their own understanding of matters relating to gender, race and other cultures. This happens through high-quality lessons in visual art and design which are all linked to a wider culture in our society. In these lessons, pupils are encouraged to raise questions around moral issues and dilemmas and to show mutual respect and consideration when discussing progress and themes. Staff support pupils to develop their knowledge and views around such topics, which in turn builds their own personal morals.
All children are given equal opportunities for a wide range of art experiences that they may not otherwise experience. Art and Design frequently requires pupils to work in pairs or groups. This enables them to communicate and co-operate with each other for a common purpose. During class discussions about themes in art, for example, projects involving WWII artworks, or ancient civilisations, pupils explore individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance from the past to the present. These experiences provide pupils with memories that they can take with them and develop their social, emotional and communication skills. The teaching of the arts helps our pupils to find alternate ways to express themselves and their feelings, whilst teaching them about social issues that many of our children encounter.
Art provides a worldwide form of communication through all cultures and our pupils understand this. All units of work link with contextual themes involving various cultures and civilisations from around the world, such as African and Mayan arts and traditions. They lead to a greater understanding of different ways of life and a respect for cultures that differ from their own. The fusion of artwork from a range of cultures leads to our children incorporating designs, patterns and motifs in their own work, thus developing a deeper understanding of our cultures within our own community and the wider world.
How to help at home
Useful websites: