Intent
At Wolsingham Primary school, we aim to provide children with an excellent art and design education. We engage, inspire and challenge children, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to participate in, experiment with, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. Children and young people will be consistently given the opportunity to think creatively and critically.
We believe Art and design helps children to say what cannot be said in words – “a picture paints a thousand words”. When children are asked to talk about a piece of artwork, they must reach into their poetic capabilities to find words that describe how it makes them feel.
Art can be therapy for many and provides pupils with opportunities to express their inner thoughts and feelings in an unobtrusive way. Art can tell us stories about the past as well as help us to make predictions about our future. You will see children engage with different media, explore colour and pattern, work in 2 and 3 dimensions and research some of the famous artists of past and present as well as those important to the North East.
Within each Key Stage phase, the following skills are taught; mark making/drawing, working with colour/painting, printing, textiles, collage and sculpture. It is expected that the children study a famous artist, both past and present, each half term.
Art and Design in the Early Years
An artist in the early years will develop an understanding of colours and how colours can be mixed to create a new colour. They will learn lots of new techniques such as how to hold a paintbrush, and paint effectively, leading to drawing representations of people and events, giving meaning to the early marks that they make. They will explore and be exposed to a variety of different techniques for example, stamping, painting, sponging, chalks, charcoal and many other media to represent their artistic thoughts and ideas. All learning will include children learning how to use tools and techniques safely, competently and appropriately, considering and managing some risks. Children will enjoy role-play, taking on different roles, dressing up and using language that they have seen through experiences at home and school. Children will develop a preference for forms of expression, including art, music, dance, role-play and stories, using what they have learnt in original ways. They will play alongside other children, developing and acting out a narrative. A lot of learning in the early years takes place through purposeful play, both indoors and outdoors. Towards the end of Reception, children will be learning skills to equip them for their future learning and later success in Year 1.
Please see our Whole School Long Term Overview and Whole School Long Term Plan to see what our pupils will study during each year.
