Art and Design Technology
Intent
The following quote is by AccessArt and is the basis of our art pedagogy. “By exploring why art is relevant to all our lives, we aim to make certain that pupils feel entitled to develop their creativity, and understand their place in the world as creative, confident beings. The nature of art, making or consuming, is never fixed or static. By nature, art is about growth and evolution, about unexpected discovery.”
At Broadway Infant School, we value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. Art and Design provides the children with the opportunities to develop and extend skills and an opportunity to express their individual interests, thoughts and ideas.
Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should begin to think critically and develop the skills necessary to create their own pieces of work with confidence and competency. They should also begin to understand how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture and creativity of our nation.
Design and Technology nurtures pupil’s imaginations and creativity combined with real world problem solving skills. Throughout the teaching of Design and Technology we hope to inspire the children’s ability to communicate their own ideas, develop their own solutions and realise their likes and dislikes. We ensure children are given time to explore and reflect on current products, collaborate and create mock-ups of mechanisms, and finally use their discovered knowledge and understanding to design and make their own products. We allow children the opportunity to select appropriate materials, tools and techniques for creating their product, whilst following health and safety guidelines. We ensure all products reflect the six principles of D&T; there is an intended user, there is an intended purpose, it has functionality, children are able to make design decisions, children are able to innovate, and the product is authentic, believable and meaningful to themselves and others.
Furthermore, we also aim to nurture enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose when designing and making ‘solutions’ for the ‘problems’.
Implementation
The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design and Design Technology Curriculum at Broadway Infant School is based on the National Curriculum and supported by our curriculum breakdowns and progression of skills documents, ensuring consistent approach to this creative subject that builds on skills and knowledge from year to year. Art and Design and DT are taught for three terms each.
At Broadway Infant School we use AccessArt as our platform from which we gain most of our CPD, sequence of learning in KS1 (Pathways), Areas of Exploration (EYFS & SEND) and resources for the teaching and learning of Art. Teachers are free to choose the Pathways they feel would suit their pupil’s needs and/or enhance termly topics. “Talking Points” are pictorial and video resources that introduce teachers and pupils to a wide variety of artists, designers and craftspeople from across the world. Teachers are also free to think of their own lessons and use resources.
As an Arts Award School we give the opportunity for all Year 2 students to work towards their Discovery certificate, celebrating the Arts in our local area, the UK and around the world.
To support the teaching and learning of D&T in KS1, we use D&T Association where teachers can find resources to support their own CPD and teaching as well as guide the sequence of learning. Play Projects are guided and reflective making sessions used in Reception, which are based around play and focus on making props for characters to develop storylines around and enhance play.
Using Susan Ogier’s model for assessment in Art, we have begun to assess children on:
1. Their level of skill and their grasp on concepts
2. Their enthusiasm and engagement and their willingness to develop their ideas
3. Ability to communicate their ideas and willingness to take creative risks to explore media and materials.
4. Their confidence to give opinions and to accept feedback they can use to adapt their work.
Children in Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked throughout the year. Provision is tailored to their needs and interests and interventions for fine motor skills are taught as needed.
Impact
Each child is given an Arts and Design portfolio book which includes a yearly example of children’s work. Each year, teachers put in work which shows the learning in each term as well as evidence of work leading up to unit of work, including a self-evaluation. This gives a view of their child’s progression through the 3 years at our school. Children are encouraged to reflect on their work and that of others, developing their appreciation of art and notice areas for development within their own work.
Information is gathered through pupil voice questionnaires, allowing children to have their say on our Arts and Design Technology curriculum as well as time for them to self- reflect on their own capabilities and areas for improvement.
Parents are given time to enjoy their children’s creations and reflect with them during class end of term drop-in sessions and their comments and ideas can be used to enhance our planning and teaching.