Art & Design

Vision for Art & Design at Longmoor

At Longmoor Community Primary School, we believe that art is a powerful way for children to express themselves, explore ideas and make sense of the world around them. Our art curriculum aims to inspire and develop children’s creativity, confidence and curiosity, while providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to become thoughtful and independent artists.

Through our art curriculum, children have opportunities to explore and experiment with a wide range of materials, techniques and processes. They learn to draw, paint, print, collage, sculpt and construct, while developing their ability to communicate ideas through their artwork. Children are encouraged to take creative risks, learn from mistakes and develop their own artistic style.

Our curriculum exposes children to a diverse range of artists, craftspeople and creative practices. Children learn to look closely at artwork, discuss and respond to the work of others and develop an understanding of how artists use materials, techniques and ideas to communicate. They are encouraged to appreciate art from different cultures, communities and periods of history.

As pupils progress through the school, they revisit and develop key artistic skills and knowledge with increasing depth. They build a growing understanding of materials, techniques, vocabulary and artistic processes, enabling them to become increasingly confident and independent in their creative choices.

At Longmoor, we use the AccessArt Primary Art Curriculum to support the delivery of our Art & Design curriculum. AccessArt provides a rich and diverse programme of learning which enables children to explore a broad range of artistic disciplines, materials, techniques and creative approaches.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that children experience a broad range of artistic disciplines throughout their time at Longmoor. These include drawing and sketchbook work, painting, printmaking, collage, sculpture, textiles and working in three dimensions.

We recognise that children need opportunities to explore, practise, refine and apply their artistic skills. Lessons therefore provide opportunities for children to experiment with materials and techniques before developing and creating their own final pieces.

A key feature of our curriculum is the use of sketchbooks. These provide children with a space to practise skills, record ideas, experiment with materials, reflect on their work and develop their creative thinking.

Children also explore the work and ideas of a diverse range of artists through AccessArt's Talking Points resources. This helps children to develop their visual literacy and understand that art can be created for many different purposes and in many different ways.

Our curriculum follows a progressive approach. Skills and knowledge are revisited throughout a child's journey through school, allowing pupils to build on prior learning and work with increasing independence and confidence.

Art lessons at Longmoor provide children with opportunities to explore, create, reflect and respond.

Lessons begin by revisiting relevant knowledge, vocabulary and previously taught skills. Teachers introduce children to the artistic focus of the lesson and provide opportunities to explore examples of artwork, artists, materials and techniques.

Children are encouraged to experiment and make choices about their work rather than simply following a model. They are given time to practise techniques, explore possibilities and develop their own ideas. This helps children understand that the creative process is not always about getting things 'right' first time, but about experimenting, refining and learning.

Teachers model techniques clearly and provide opportunities for children to practise before applying their skills independently. Lessons may include individual, paired or collaborative activities, depending on the artistic process being explored.

Children are taught subject-specific vocabulary alongside practical skills, enabling them to talk about their own artwork and respond thoughtfully to the work of other artists.

Throughout their time at Longmoor, pupils encounter a wide range of materials and techniques. AccessArt's curriculum is organised around different areas of artistic exploration, including drawing and sketchbooks, print, colour and collage, three-dimensional work, paint, surface and texture, and collaboration and community.

At Longmoor, we recognise that every child should have the opportunity to experience success in art. Lessons are therefore adapted to ensure that all pupils can participate meaningfully in the creative process.

Teachers consider the needs of individual pupils when selecting materials, equipment, groupings and levels of support. Tasks can be broken down into smaller steps, with additional modelling, demonstrations or guided practice provided where appropriate.

The open-ended nature of AccessArt's curriculum provides opportunities for children to approach a task in different ways and produce individual outcomes. This enables pupils with different starting points, experiences and strengths to engage with the same artistic concept.

Assessment in Art & Design focuses on the knowledge, skills and creative processes that children develop over time.

Teachers use ongoing assessment during lessons to identify children's understanding of techniques, vocabulary and artistic concepts. Through observation, questioning, discussion, sketchbooks and finished pieces, teachers identify what children can do independently and where further teaching or practice is required.

Children are given opportunities to reflect on their own work and discuss the choices they have made. They are encouraged to use appropriate artistic vocabulary when explaining their ideas, evaluating their work and responding to the work of others.