Art and Design at Church Lench CE First School

At Church Lench CE First School, Art and Design is taught on a two-year rolling cycle. Our curriculum has been carefully designed to introduce pupils to a wide range of traditional and contemporary artists, movements, and cultures, from prehistoric cave art and Impressionism to present-day artistic practices.

Our curriculum meets the requirements of the National Curriculum and enables pupils to:

• Produce creative and imaginative work.
• Explore and develop their own ideas.
• Record experiences through visual means.
• 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.
• Develop increasing confidence and technical skills across a range of media.

In Class 1, pupils study Art and Design through blocked units each term. This approach enables children to see the progression of skills and techniques clearly as they work towards a finished piece over one or two days. Each unit also includes a focus on an artist. As Class 1 includes reception and year 1 pupils, art and design is also embedded within continuous provision, ensuring that creative opportunities are always accessible and encourage exploration, experimentation, and independent expression.

From Years 2–5, art and design is taught weekly by our art specialist. Schemes of work, developed by the art lead, focus on a different aspect of art each half term. Through these units, pupils develop a broad range of artistic knowledge, skills, and techniques, including the use of colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form, and space.

Pupils maintain art books in which they experiment, practise techniques, record observations, develop ideas, and refine their work using a variety of media. These sketchbooks provide a valuable record of their artistic development, creative thinking, and progression over time.

Within each unit, pupils study the work of a range of artists, craft makers, and designers. They learn to identify similarities and differences between artistic practices, make connections to their own work, and develop an understanding of the historical and cultural significance of different art forms. We have carefully selected a diverse range of artists and creative practitioners to inspire, challenge, and engage pupils throughout their artistic journey.

Through our Art and Design curriculum, and guided by our Christian vision, “With God, nothing is impossible,” we aim to foster creativity, curiosity, resilience, and self-expression, enabling every child to develop as a confident, reflective, and enthusiastic artist.