At Eastlands we believe that art and design is a vital part of children’s education and has a significant and valuable role in the taught curriculum, as well as the enrichment opportunities it can offer to our pupils. The 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. At Eastlands we follow the ‘Kapow Primary’ programme of study for years 1-6 which builds upon the national curriculum and establishes the underlying principles, content and practice of art education. It allows children at Eastlands to take ownership of their own curriculum content and can be tailored for their specific needs. 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.

In EYFS at Eastlands, the art curriculum is delivered through either adult-led activities or through child-initiated activities both indoors and outdoors, following the links within the development matters framework. Expressive Arts and Design in early years encourages children to explore different media and materials and encourage their imagination and this is cross-curricular throughout early years. Children are constantly accessing art, media and role play in all areas of learning. 

Implementation

The skills and knowledge that children will develop throughout each art topic are mapped across each year group and throughout the school to ensure progression.

We now teach Art and Design though a block week of teaching 4 times a year to support pupil’s development and their journey of skills over a consistent time frame. This ensure that children are not stopping their flow of creativity and are able to continue their creations each afternoon.

The emphasis on knowledge ensures that children understand the context of the artwork, as well as the artists that they are learning about and being inspired by. This enables links to other curriculum areas, including humanities, with children developing a considerable knowledge of individual artists as well as individual works and art movements. A similar focus on skills means that children are given opportunities to express their creative imagination, as well as practise and develop mastery in the key processes of art: drawing, painting, printing, textiles and sculpture. The school’s high quality art curriculum is supported through the availability of a wide range of quality resources, which are used to support children’s confidence in the use of different media.

Art and Design Subject Drivers

Impact

Pupils’ work reflect their sense of pride in their artwork and this is also demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. The school environment also celebrates children’s achievements in art and demonstrates the subject’s high status in the school, with outcomes, including sculptures, enhancing the outdoor as well as indoor environment.
The Art and Design curriculum at Eastlands contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection.