Art and Design
“Art has the power to transform and illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate.”
Harvey Fierstein
What is the intent of Art and Design at Meadows?
At Meadows Primary School, we belief that Art and Design plays a crucial role in children’s education. Our high-quality art curriculum is designed to develop children’s curiosity and a natural sense of wonder about their world. Teaching pupils to observe the world thoroughly and carefully, they have opportunities to express their views of the world through a variety of mixed media and artistic forms.
Creating art expands a child's ability to interact with the world around them and provides a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. At Meadows, our learning through art develops pupils’ decision-making and risk-taking skills. The opportunity to create whatever a child desires helps foster creativity, imagination and develops their individuality.
How is Art and Design implemented at Meadows?
From EYFS to Year Six the key aims, outcomes and knowledge of the national curriculum are taught through the exciting thematic units of our Meadows Dimensions curriculum.
At Meadows all children can use a variety of different media to build on their own experiences and develop new skills to become proficient in all areas of art including drawing, painting, sculpting and other artistic techniques. Within this, all children learn about the key elements of art (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form).
Children begin to develop an understanding of how art reflects and shapes our society, contributing to a nations culture and wealth. Children learn about the purpose of art, craft and design in contemporary life, different times, cultures, and the wider world, through a range of artists, crafts people, and designers.
How does Art and Design progress at Meadows?
Art knowledge and skills are built upon and revisited during your child’s time at Meadows. There is a key focus on knowledge of different artists, architecture, and cultural understanding. Children develop their knowledge of key skills taught using a range of different tools and techniques. The art vocabulary of children at Meadows grows and builds on prior learning as they move through school.
In Nursery and Reception, children are taught to identify a range of colours and simple art techniques including printing, painting and drawing. In Key Stage 1, children develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. They develop their own ideas and decide which materials to use to express themselves. In Key Stage 2, children learn to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials including pencil, charcoal, paint and clay. They use their sketch books to review and revisit ideas, test and experiment with new skills and draft and redraft ideas before creating a finished piece.
How can I support my child with Art and Design?
- Allow your child to get messy using different materials, let them explore using paint, pens, clay, playdough, pencils, chalks, and crayons to express their creativity.
- They can use everyday household objects to create pieces of art. e.g. plastic tubs and toilet roll tubes to create a sculpture.
- Your child could be encouraged to record their ideas and sketches in a sketch book.
- Encourage your child to take a personal sketch book with them to different places: they can be inspired by different buildings, landscapes, and nature.
- Take time to praise and comment on the wonderful art that they have created. Display some pieces around the house or in their bedroom to celebrate their creativity.
- Visit local art galleries or museums, talk to them about what they like and dislike about different artwork. Talk about the styles of art and the medium that has been used.
- Click here for some Art and Design books your child might like.