Art and Design

At Tottenhall Infant school we strongly believe that art is a vital part of our curriculum, encouraging creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking. Through studying a diverse range of artists and styles, children develop an understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritage.

We use the national curriculum for Art and Design and ensure that all pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring ideas and recording experiences.
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture, and other techniques.
• Pupils evaluate and analyse creative works using artistic language, widening their knowledge of art in a variety of ways from learning about great artists, craft makers, and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Approach
Our pupils explore the visual elements of art including line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, and form. This is achieved successfully through well-planned lessons that build skills and confidence over time.

Teaching and Learning
Art is taught weekly each half term, alternating with Design and Technology.
In EYFS, children create artwork linked to wider topics, focusing on developing core skills. In Key Stage 1, pupils follow structured units and produce weekly artwork.

Opportunities

At Tottenhall Infant school children have the opportunity to participate in an ART DAY where teachers model and demonstrate a piece of art work related to an artist, designer or craftsman to the pupils. This guidance ensures that the pupils create art work influenced by the session taught and the pupils create beautiful work that are visible on displays around the school for all to view. This enables children to build confidence, understanding and develop their skills explored widely as well as interact with their peers where they may work in pairs, or in groups or alone and share their opinions and views on what had been learnt.

They also visit galleries and museums to enrich their understanding and knowledge of the art in the diverse community and their observations made in their surroundings with attention to the environment. Lessons are often inspired by famous artists and linked to subjects such as Science, History, and Geography. Pupils learn new techniques, use key vocabulary, and evaluate their own work and others’ work.

Success

Learning is inclusive and differentiated, ensuring all pupils achieve success where the     talent of the children’s art work are displayed across the school and celebrated hugely. An art portfolio with each child’s art work are compiled from Nursery all the way to Year 2 which is finally taken home. The pupils make a memorable journey at Tottenhall school with the learning of art and design in an innovative way, inspiring them to go out in the wider world as creative independent imaginative learners.

Useful Websites and Places to Visit