Art

At Linthwaite Clough we strive to develop the imagination and creativity of our children. We intend to offer a broad and varied art curriculum which allows children to develop their skill set over a range of disciplines, including drawing, sketchbook work, printmaking, painting, collage and making. Children are taught about great artists, architects and designers and encouraged to appreciate their work critically.

The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design curriculum is based on the national curriculum and Early Years Framework, ensuring a well-structured approach to this creative subject.

Our curriculum is supported by Access Art and has been adapted for our mixed age classes, ensuring that a breadth of knowledge and skills are taught over a two-year cycle. This ensures that a progression of knowledge and skill can be seen between phases. Adaptations have been made for the year 2/3 class using information from the progression map for each art discipline, ensuring that specific skill areas are built upon and planned into the projects and units delivered.

Art and Design lessons in KS1 and KS2 are delivered weekly in alternate half terms across the year. Within EYFS, children explore and use a variety of media and materials in both adult-led and child-initiated activities linked to 7 different areas of exploration. Throughout school, the children use a range of media to allow them to explore and develop skills in drawing, sketchbook work, printmaking, painting, collage and making. For example, to develop skills in  painting, children explore the use of watercolour, fabric paint and acrylic.

Where appropriate, meaningful cross curricular links are made to enhance the learning experiences of the children. Skills linked to specific disciplines learnt in previous phases are referred to, allowing these to be built on.

Our Art and Design curriculum is assessed ‘in the moment’ through observation; observing how the children work and the choices they make. Individual sketchbooks are used for tracking development and they allow the children to self-assess and reflect on their own work.

As a result of the implementation of our Art and Design curriculum, the children have developed  their confidence and creativity as individuals, with an ability to express themselves visually. Through the broad and balanced range of experiences, the children progressively build skills in drawing, sketchbook work, printmaking, painting, collage and making whilst gaining an understanding of key artists and artistic concepts.