• In Nursery, children are taught to independently and safely choose and manipulate materials, and use their knowledge to create their own designs. 

• In Reception, children are taught to explore, and use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings. They are encouraged to return to and build on their previous learning, refining ideas and developing their ability to represent them. 

The skills children learn are: 

• Drawing: Create closed shapes with continuous lines and begin to use these shapes to represent objects. Investigate different lines thick/thin/wavy/straight and textures.  

• Painting: To understand what colours are primary colours. Explore mixing colours to create new ones. To understand how to create different textures using a paint brush 

• Sculpture: Mould and create simple shapes with malleable material. To change the surface e.g. impress and apply simple decoration. Combine found materials to create a model/sculpture. Know how to join using hinge joints, glue, and tape. 

• Collage: Understand how to layer materials to create a collage. Understand how to use different textured materials. 

• Printing: Explore using different colours to create different layers. Explore printing on to different materials. 

Children develop their vocabulary using subject specific vocabulary. In Reception, they also develop an understanding of simple phrases to describe and compare their work. 

In Year 1 children will develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. They will use a range of materials creatively to design and make products. 

The skills children learn are: 

• Drawing: Draw using pencil and coloured pencils adding pattern and texture. Explore drawing lines of different sizes and thickness. 

• Painting: To be able to name the primary and secondary colours. To understand how to mix paint to create secondary colours. To understand that there are different styles of art and explore different artists. 

• Sculpture: To know how to manipulate malleable materials e.g. rolling, pinching, pulling, impressing. To know how to create a three-dimensional joint eg. An arm on a body. 

• Collage: Use repeated patterns in their collage. Combine visual and tactile qualities. 

• Printing: Design a printing block inspired by an artist. Create light and dark colours. 

Topic-specific vocabulary is explicitly taught and modelled, enabling children to express their ideas and engage in discussions about artist and a piece of art. Children have the opportunity to apply their learning when describing what they can see and like in the work of another artist. Children will use their knowledge of key vocabulary to say how other artists have used colour, pattern and shape. 

In Year 2 children are encouraged to produce more detailed work inspired by artist Esther Mahlangu, Kenny Hunter, Vincent Van Gogh and experiment with different styles which the artists have used. 

The skills children learn are: 

• Drawing: Develop their concept of scale and proportions. To start to use shading to create shadow. To show improved proportion when drawing the face or the whole body. 

• Painting: To select different brushes for texture and detail. Introduce ‘tints’ by adding white and ‘shades’ by adding black to make lighter and darker. Use different techniques (e.g. dotting, scratching) to imitate an artist/style of art. 

• Sculpture: To develop joining with clay by cross hatching and slip. Experiment with clay using a coil pot-creating a larger structure. Plan a sculpture that can be viewed from all angles. 

• Collage: Select a material for a certain purpose and be able to explain their choices. Create individual and group collaged pieces. 

• Printing: Design their own printing block. To experiment with effects and techniques for a given purpose (e.g. rubbings, collage, printing). 

Topic-specific vocabulary is explicitly taught and modelled, enabling children to express their ideas and engage in discussions about artist and a piece of art. Children have the opportunity to apply their learning when discussing what or who their work is influenced by. Children will use their knowledge of key vocabulary to say how other artists have inspired their work and suggest improvements to their work. 

• We strive to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their ability or additional needs, have equal access to high-quality Art education.  

• Differentiation/scaffolding strategies are employed to support learners who require additional help, and gifted and talented pupils are appropriately challenged. 

• Provision is made for pupils with physical disabilities or sensory impairments to participate fully in all Art activities. 

• We promote a respectful and supportive learning environment, where pupils value and celebrate each other's contributions. 

• In the summer we run a MADD (Music, Arts, Drama and Dance) week to give children the opportunity to create performances, explore different artists, feel part of a community and a group and to express themselves. 

• We invite a local artist to impart their artistic technical skills and for children to see art as a valid and valued career option for themselves.