Art at Swarcliffe Primary School
At Swarcliffe Primary school, we value Art and Design as an important part of the curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with opportunities to develop and extend skills and also gives them the opportunity to express their individual interests and ideas. We therefore believe Art and Design should be taught as an individual subject as well as incorporated into other curriculum lessons.
‘Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.’ Department of Education 2013.
Enrich, Enhance, Excite
Our Art curriculum is enhanced further by educational visits and having visitors come into our school. We also provide extracurricular activities after school for our students for example colouring club. Colouring is known to have many benefits to help reduce stress and anxiety levels. There are also opportunities for children to develop their creative skills in Night Owls club.
EY Foundation Stage
Children in EY Foundation Stage explore and use a variety of resources and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have lots of opportunities to explore colour, texture and movement. The children should be able to select appropriate media and adapt their work where necessary. They will also use a range of materials to express their own ideas and develop their skills to use simple tools.
Key Stage One
Children in KS1 will continue to develop their drawing and painting skills and they will be able to share their ideas, experiences and imagination with their peers. They will also develop their techniques when using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. Children will study a range of artists such as Hokusai and be able to make links to their own work.
Key Stage Two
Children in KS2 are taught to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design. They will use sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas. Also, they will develop their knowledge about great artists, architects and designers in history.
Our Art Texts
Examples of additional texts we use to enhance our Art and Design curriculum:
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Foundation Stage)
Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt (Year 1/2)
Tell Me a Picture: Adventures in looking at art by Quentin Blake (Year 3/4)
Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories: A Children’s History of Art by Michael Bird (Year 5/6)
Our Art Lessons
Useful Links
BBC Bitesize-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8tnvcw
Leeds Art Gallery-
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-art-gallery/
Art for Kids Hub-
https://www.artforkidshub.com/