Art & Design & Technology

Intent

At Sandilands we believe that Art and Design Technology are vital and integral parts of children’s education. We use the National Curriculum to create our Art and Design Curriculum. This provides children with the opportunities to develop a range of methods they can express their individual creativity, whilst developing knowledge and understanding of the wide variety of art and design across different societies and cultures. Our aim is to grow every child’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection and enable children to develop a curiosity and sense of wonder about the world around them by providing an accessible and engaging Art and Design Technology curriculum with links to other curriculum areas, including humanities.

Implementation

Children will be encouraged to express their creativity through a skills based curriculum and will be provided with opportunities to practise and develop mastery in the following key art processes; drawing, painting, printing, textiles and sculpture. The development of skills is supported through the study of key artists. Children are given constructive feedback and next steps, with further opportunities to edit and complete their work to ensure their skills are being developed. The evidence of their work is collected in their sketchbook which follows every child throughout school. 

The art and design curriculum is implemented through:

• Carefully sequenced planning: Units are designed to build on prior knowledge and skills, ensuring progression across EYFS, KS1, and KS2. Pupils revisit and refine techniques over time, deepening mastery.
• Practical learning and exploration: Children are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and record ideas in sketchbooks, which are used as working documents throughout their learning journey.
• Explicit teaching of knowledge and vocabulary: Key concepts and specialist language are taught systematically, supporting children’s ability to discuss art with confidence and precision.
• Exposure to diverse artists and contexts: Pupils learn about a broad range of artists and designers, including those from different cultures, genders, and historical periods, making meaningful links across the wider curriculum.
• Inclusive practice: Learning is adapted to ensure all pupils, including those with SEND or disadvantaged backgrounds, have equal access to high-quality art experiences.
• Enrichment opportunities: Artist workshops and public exhibitions of pupils’ work extend learning beyond the classroom and raise aspirations. 

EYFS: Physical development/Expressive Arts and Design 

Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have opportunities to learn to:

• Explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials
• Respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects.
• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas
• Explore colour and use for a particular purpose
• Safely use and explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different tools, media and materials
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
•  Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary
•  Share their creations explaining processes they have used

Key Stage 1

Pupils are taught:

• To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
• To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
• To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
• About the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.    

Key Stage 2

Pupils 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.

Pupils are taught:

• To create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas
• To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
• About great artists, architects and designers in history.

Impact

The impact of our curriculum is that children:

• Demonstrate a secure and growing knowledge of artistic techniques, processes, and significant artists.
• Apply their skills confidently, producing creative and original outcomes that reflect their ideas and intentions.
• Show resilience, independence, and pride in their creative journey, understanding that mistakes are part of the learning process.
• Use technical vocabulary effectively when evaluating their own work and that of others, showing critical awareness and appreciation.
• Develop cultural capital, understanding how art and design reflect and shape history, culture, and identity.
• Transition to secondary school with the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to continue their artistic journey.

We assess impact through:

• Formative assessment within lessons and in sketchbooks.
• Summative judgements at the end of units against key knowledge and skills.
• Pupil voice and discussions to evaluate enjoyment, understanding, and cultural awareness.
• Subject leader monitoring of outcomes, progression, and teaching quality across year groups.

Click here for our Art and Craft Long Term Overview