Art & Design
Subject Coordinator Miss S Elmes
At Woodhouse Primary Academy, we recognise the vital role Art has on a child’s ability to think creatively, express themselves freely and explore creativity in the world around them.
The art curriculum supports and develops these through a process of exploration, experimentation and self-expression.
Art is key to improving physical development in terms of fine motor skills in our school. On entry to nursery children join us with language skills and physical development that is below that of typical development for their age. The aim of our Art curriculum is to support these areas and give all children a love and appreciation for Art in a variety of forms. We aim to give all children the tools to express themselves developing language skills through discussions in relation to the artwork of others as well as their own. All children will have the opportunity to participate in a range of visits and develop their understanding of Art in all its forms through visits to local sculptures etc. Within the Bishop Auckland area art has been used to support and acknowledge the areas historical heritage such as Auckland Castle, The Mining art gallery and the Spanish art gallery.
At Woodhouse Primary Academy we aim to provide all children with a broad and balanced curriculum which addresses our school priorities and prepares them for life beyond primary education. We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to create a variety of artworks that allows them to express themselves in a variety of forms and media. Links are made across the curriculum and units of work sequenced to support application of Art. Artists are chosen to reflect both modern and historical artists, sometimes to reflect opposing styles or because of curriculum relevance and to enhance children’s wider view of art.
Children have the opportunity to visit art galleries in our local area. This is linked to the programme of enrichment opportunities to contextualise learning and enhance cultural capital which runs across our curriculum as many of our children do not access a broad range of wider life experiences due to financial challenges and deprivation within our community.
The EYFS framework is structured very differently to the national curriculum as it is organised across seven areas of learning rather than subject areas. The most relevant statements for Art are taken from the following areas of learning:
Communication and language, Physical Development, and Expressive Arts and Design
Within our EYFS, children’s Art skills are challenged through ongoing levelled continuous provision and targeted implicit and explicit challenges linked to the EYFS framework.
Our whole school curriculum is planned on a two-year cycle. Our curriculum is designed to run half termly link to other areas of curriculum. Art lessons are a space for children to develop artistic appreciation and the knowledge and skills to progress to the next key stage or within the wider world. Learning within their classrooms reinforces an expectation that all pupils understand their place in a wider world and their community.
