Art and Design

Intent

The art and design curriculum allows children to be creative and reflective. High-quality art and design education engages, inspires and challenges children, giving them the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. At Oakley Infant School, children will have access to all seven areas of art, craft and design; drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, textiles and art and computing. As they progress, they will be taught to think critically and develop an appreciation of art, craft and design, using appropriate language to voice their opinion. The children will also develop an understanding of how art and design reflects and shapes history, and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of the nation.

All children will be taught:

• To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
• To use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
• To develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.
• About the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

Implementation

The Art and Design curriculum encourages creativity and resourcefulness in all learners. Throughout their study the children will look at famous artists of the past and modern artists, craft makers and designers. The art curriculum is linked to topics where appropriate. It supports children to work from experience, imagination and observation and encourages them to talk about their own and other works confidently, accepting and respecting different viewpoints. They will experience a range of materials when designing and making and develop a wide range of techniques in colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space. Subject-specific language will be used alongside to help children reflect on the process and their composition. They will be encouraged to: create, discuss, question, communicate and share their work. 

Impact

Our art and design curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression.  We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Assessment of standards achieved against the planned objectives
• Children talking about their learning in art and design confidently (Verbal feedback; Pupil conferencing).
• Children are able to apply previous learnt artistic skills to new work

Design and Technology

Intent

At Oakley Infant School Design and Technology allows children to develop their designing and making skills as well as an understanding of technological processes, products, their manufacture and their contribution to society. Children are able to design and make high quality products, combining knowledge and understanding with creativity and innovation. They follow a process of design, make and evaluate to ensure that they are interactive with the design process and think critically. Children have the opportunity to undertake practical activity and experimentation with different materials and tools.

All KS1 children will:

• Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
• Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
• Select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
• Explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• Evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
• Build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• Explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Implementation

Design and Technology is taught through focus topics, relating to topic work being covered within the year group. Through Design and Technology children are able to work independently and collaboratively developing skills of questioning, communication and evaluation. Specific skills are taught, practised and applied to projects and tasks relevant to the children. A plan, design, make and evaluate cycle is employed and children are then encouraged to look for ways that they could change or improve their finished products. Children will experience and variety of activities including food preparation and will work with a variety of materials and tools over the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.

Impact

Our Design and Technology curriculum is planned to give children hands-on experiences which develop skills as children design, make and evaluate.  We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Assessment of standards achieved against the planned outcomes
• Children talking about their learning confidently using the correct language (Verbal feedback; Pupil conferencing).
• Children use previously learnt skills in new experiences.
• Children are able to reflect upon their products and improve them.