Art and Design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. At Lutton St Nicholas Primary Academy, we value the importance of Art and Design in enabling children to explore their ideas by experimenting, inventing, and creating their own varied works of art using a range of materials. We firmly believe that Art is a subject that can help us to understand and give meaning to the world in which we live.

The National Curriculum for Art and Design aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

At Lutton St Nicholas Primary Academy, we believe that a high-quality art and design curriculum should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. As pupils progress through school, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design and also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at our academy is based on the National Curriculum and linked to topics to ensure a well-structured, cross-curricular approach to this creative subject where appropriate. The work of famous national and international artists are explored to enhance the children's learning.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities where 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
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
• Select appropriate media and techniques and adapt their work where necessary

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.

Within their Art lessons, the children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and continually improve. Their reflections should be meaningful and continuous throughout the creative process, with evidence of both verbal and written refection. Children are encouraged to take risks and experiment within Art lessons; reflecting on the success of their ideas and techniques.