Intent
The aim at Hamstead Infant School is to provide children with an ambitious, inspiring and coherent curriculum that allows our children to develop their confidence and independence regardless of their independent needs. We provide a broad and engaging curriculum based on the EYFS Development Matters and National Curriculum allowing children to extend their knowledge and understanding of art, artists and processes within art. We aim to provide children with the skills to become independent and responsible artists. To do this, children will embrace challenge, use their developing skills in art to express their own ideas and follow their own creative journeys with confidence.
The Art curriculum is rooted in the following areas:
1. To provide experiences that allow our children to design, make and create in order to share and generate their own creative ideas.
2. To teach children to use drawing, painting and sculpture to share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
3. To explore and develop a wide range of art and design techniques when using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
4. To teach children about a range of artists, craft makers, designers where they are able to talk about similarities, differences in practices and disciplines and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
The end is goal is for our children to begin to develop the characteristics of an artist through a wide range of experiences. They will gain a love of art and be engaged by the exploration of it. Children will take control of their learning and be excited and inspired about what they are creating and learning about.
Our Curriculum Drivers are used to personalise the curriculum to meet the needs of the children within the school with the aim to provide challenge for all:
Language -The children will be able to communicate and express themselves confidently within their Art and EAD lessons. They will learn a rich and varied range of vocabulary to help them understand and use language linked to the art curriculum and art processes. The children will be given opportunities to communicate their thoughts, opinions, feelings and ideas during lessons and will also begin to learn how to use communication to describe/evaluate their work and also, to appreciate the work of others.
Independence- The children will take part in happy, engaging and inspiring art/EAD lessons. When completing activities and projects, the children will learn how to build resilience and understand that we can learn from our mistakes and that perseverance is key to learning and improving their work. They will learn about skills and techniques which will lead to them choosing equipment and materials they will need to help them complete work. The children will become creative, resilient artists who are confident to apply their skills across all areas of the curriculum and in everyday life. Children will be encouraged to appreciate and also to take pride in their work and the work of peers and other artists.
Outdoor- The children will have the opportunity to apply their artistic knowledge and understanding through outdoor learning opportunities. Outside, children are encouraged to not only explore techniques and processes learnt in class on a larger scale, but also to use natural materials as part of their artistic exploration in varied ways and also as part of forest school activities.
Implementation
Children’s skills are developed and built upon throughout their school journey to allow them to gain a deeper knowledge and confidently use skills in ART/EAD. Misconceptions are explored and used to challenge and enrich their journey.
For early years, continuous provision provides constant opportunities both indoor and outdoor for children to explore and practise skills and the use of tools in art independently. Here, children can also follow their own creative interests.
In KS1 children have 3 main art topics with each one taught over a half term. In each topic lessons are sequenced and follow a process in art where skills are taught and then used to improve techniques.
Art is also seen at incidental times across the year where skills are used to create cards, calendars and work as part of craft days with parents.
Art/EAD in school is also used in a cross curricular way to support work created in other curriculum areas.
Teachers and children will use a varied range of vocabulary linked to the skills and processes within art.
The teaching of art across the school meets the needs of all individual learners and provides a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Impact
Children who leave Hamstead Infant School will have achieved their personal best in art, they will be more confident, independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their education in art.
Children are able to develop and use the skills and language learnt in art and apply their knowledge and skills in art independently.
Children will have developed skills in order to express themselves, be creative and use their skills independently and confidently.
Our ambitious and engaging curriculum provides children with a love of learning so that they ‘Know more’ and ‘Remember more’.