At St Michael’s Nursery and Infant School, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thought and ideas.

Art is a foundation subject of the National Curriculum and an important part of developing our children’s ability to develop their individual creativity, express their ideas and understanding and to work both individually and collaboratively with others.

Each year we plan art lessons, which aim to ensure that children are able to develop key skills using specific media. The importance of Art is evident through our yearly Art Week, in which we plan and deliver activities focusing on a particular aspect of Art, throughout the school. Parents are invited to join us.

Our aim is to ensure that children are confident approaching artwork, feel a strong sense of achievement, value the impact of art within our own lives and are able to reach their full potential.

Weaving

Aboriginal Art

Replicating Artwork

The Coral Reef 3D modelling

The Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition

Intent, Implementation and Impact

Through our Art and Design curriculum we aim to:

• enable children to respond to various stimulus to explore their own ideas and to use a range of media to represent these through their work.
• to develop creativity and imagination and the ability to think critically.
• to teach children how to use and control a range of media.
• to plan progression throughout the school to ensure children extend and develop their skills, and are “proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.”
• to increase the children’s ability to be critically aware of the role and purpose of Art and Design within our own lives, through history and within different religions, beliefs and cultures.
• to foster an enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and the work of artists, craftspeople and designers through time and to understand and appreciate the contribution of art to “the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.”
• demonstrates the expected level of achievement in art and design in each year of the school.

Children in Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked termly. Outcomes are reported to parents at the end of Reception Year.

British Values and SMSC

Art is integral to teaching children about British Values and nurturing the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural values for all children. Through art we aim to:

• develop a sense of enjoyment and fascination about themselves and others
• Use their imagination and creativity to reflect on their experiences
• Develop a range of social skills when working with others
• Have a developing appreciation and understanding of a range of cultural influences
• Participate and respond to artistic opportunities.

Six ‘Key Stories’ we read, to develop and understanding of Art in our school