National Curriculum Programme of Study 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239018/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Art_and_design.pdf 

How we teach art and design at The Round House: 

The school uses a variety of different teaching and learning styles in art and design lessons  within ICE Zone and classroom sessions. Our principal aim is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in art and design and foster a love of art that will journey with them through life. The use of the ICE Zone learning within KS1 and LKS2, running alongside  classroom teaching, gives children a rich learning environment, in which they are immersed within the topic that they are studying. This in turn creates a love of learning within the children, a sense of self worth, and a confidence not always seen in other subjects. Combining this with whole class teaching in years 5 and 6, we believe that our school provides children with a broad range of learning opportunities throughout their primary education that is built on year by year.   

We believe children learn best when:  

• They are provided with opportunities to work independently or collaboratively.  

• They are encouraged to ask as well as answer art-based questions.  

• They are able to explore creatively using different materials and mediums.  

• They have access to secondary sources such as books, paintings, sculptures and photographs.  

• They are shown methods and techniques to implement into their artwork.   

• They are encouraged to use a range of different resources.  

• They are able to use non-fiction books, internet and videos for research.  

We recognise the fact that we have a wide range of children within our classes, and so we provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by offering a variety of different ICE Zone and class activities for pupils within KS1 and LKS2, as well as providing differentiated work within years 5 and 6.   

The role of the teacher should include:  

Providing children with both taught art and design lessons and the opportunity to explore through more independent activities is, we believe, integral to the teaching of art and design.   

Taught art and design lessons will encourage pupils to engage in class discussions, where children are given the opportunity to ask and answer art and design questions.   

ICE Zone art and design activities will often be carried out by children after having had an initial teacher-input, which gives pupils the opportunity to work independently to demonstrate their understanding of a topic and to explore this further. The children enjoy the opportunity to carry out independent learning, asking and answering questions linking to specific topics. 

Teachers and teaching assistants in classrooms and the ICE Zones are clear with the expectations of work within art and design sessions and this is explicitly taught to all pupils through modelling and discussion.   

Specific success criteria that link to aspects of required learning are used within each activity to help children when completing activities.  

Teachers will make sure that:   

• access to resources will allow children to make choices about their own work   

• children are given the opportunity to discuss existing pieces of art, as well and create new ones  

• examples of existing pieces of work by famous artists are used in exploration stage to engage children and foster an understanding of the larger cultural context of art and its historical significance   

• resources provided will support the variety of abilities and needs  

• children are given opportunities to evaluate their work and the work of their peers  

• each year, children will have the opportunity to use a range of different resources  

Although we use the Kapow scheme as a basis for our art and design planning, we make it our own and are confident that what we do is the best for our children. With the termly topics operating on a two-year cycle in Years 1-4, all national curriculum objectives will be covered at the end of the cycle. 

Teaching within EYFS:  

Within the EYFS, the arts falls within Expressive Arts and Design. At The Round House, children's creativity is extended by the provision of support for their curiosity, exploration and play. Staff develop a child's imagination, creativity and their ability to use a range of media and materials. Children are provided with opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art, music, songs, movement, dance, imaginative and role-play activities. All of these approaches to expressive arts, help children to represent and understand their own feelings and ideas. 

We love inviting artists and illustrators in to school, and work closely with local arts centres and charities to ensure the children see artists in action, and get to work with them on a variety of projects.  

Useful links:

Wysing Arts Centre who we work with regularly. Always lots going on and you can visit them yourselves.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHRHILY0t3i5VvKEeFMoJxw – drawing cartoons with Steve Harpster. 

https://artfulparent.com/top-10-art-activities-for-kids/ - tried and tested favourite art activities for children.

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids - things to make, games quizzes and artists to explore - be inspired and create!

https://www.paulcarneyarts.com/ - ideas of drawing and other art to do at home.

http://www.cambridgecandi.org.uk/projects/reimagine/events#creative-care-invitations - ways to get involved with our friends at CCI who we have worked closely with before. Use your imagination.