Art

Intent

At Coombe Hill Infants, we aim to deliver a high-quality art education that inspires pupils to:

• develop as resilient, creative, curious, independent, original thinkers and learners

• remember and develop the skills learned in lessons to enhance their learning across the curriculum and prepare them for the next stage in their education

• delight in opportunities to share and celebrate their own work and the work of others

• appreciate the work of artists, sculptors, craft makers, printers, illustrators

• experience cultural capital by referencing the work of a diverse range of practitioners thereby fostering a knowledge of our cultural roots as well as those of other countries represented in our school community and the world

Our teaching staff agree that we are aiming for the same endpoint - children are engaged and alive to the creative arts, are able to ask questions,  think critically and talk knowledgeably in order to develop perspective and judgement. They will have experienced a variety of media and techniques as outlined in the national curriculum and beyond, and enjoyed a variety of enrichment opportunities. We are close to central London and therefore can make use of its excellent galleries as well as inviting professional practitioners to visit the school.  Art is taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum.

Implementation:

All staff have a clear and ambitious vision for providing high quality teaching of Art. We ensure the children are taught a range of skills and techniques and have opportunities to work with different media.  Art and Design is linked to our Power of Pictures and Power of Reading books and topics and to the Kapow Art and Design scheme.   

Our curriculum is designed to allow children to:

• explore their creativity in a range of visual arts (drawing, painting, textiles, collage, printing, IT) and use a variety of materials (eg. pencils, charcoal, felt tips, crayons, pastels, paint, natural materials, clay, paper)  and techniques to design their own work

• have opportunities to use and explore different techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space and learn the language of Art

• learn about the work of illustrators, artists, sculptors, designers and craft makers - making links between the styles of different artists and their own work.

Impact:

Teaching focuses on giving the children the skills and opportunities to share their ideas through art and design. We place an emphasis on encouraging the children to formulate and develop their own ideas whilst providing the teaching of techniques and a wealth of resources so that they can bring their ideas to fruition.  We introduce the children to the work of a diverse range of professional artists and art movements. We encourage visitors to come into the school and share their experience and expertise. We give the children opportunities to display, celebrate, share and evaluate their work and the work of others.  They build the resilience to accept that their work does not always ‘go to plan’, learning  to calmly self evaluate and view ‘mistakes’ with curiosity, taking the lessons learned forward into future work.

Children demonstrate their ability in art in a variety of different ways. Teachers will assess children’s work by making informal judgments during lessons.  Verbal feedback is given to the child to help guide his or her progress. Children are also encouraged to assess their own learning and make judgments about how they can move their learning forward.

Design & Technology

Intent:

At Coombe Hill Infant School, we aim to deliver a high-quality design and technology provision which enables children to learn how to take risks and become independent, resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.  We want our children to begin to use their creativity to design and make products that solve problems and have a purpose.

Designing and making….....something, for somebody, for some purpose.

Implementation:

We ensure that the children are taught, through a variety of creative and practical activities, the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to design and make purposeful products.  Design and technology is linked very closely to our Power of Reading books and topics. All staff have a clear and ambitious vision for providing high quality teaching of design and technology which allows children to design, make and evaluate.  Our curriculum is designed to allow children to:

• design purposeful, functional appealing products for themselves and other users based on their own designs, and to communicate their ideas through talking, drawing and making

• make, using a range of tools and equipment (cutting, shaping, joining and finishing)

• select from and use a wide range of materials and components

• evaluate a range of existing products and evaluate their own ideas and products against their design 

• use their technical knowledge to build structures and then improve them (make them stronger, stiffer, more stable)

• explore and use mechanisms (levels, sliders, wheels, axles)

• expect that the teacher’s own speaking and listening in design and technology, supports children in developing their language and vocabulary

Cooking and Nutrition

We take every opportunity to cook with the children, linking it to our learning in other areas of the curriculum. One of our wellbeing weeks focuses on healthy eating and nutrition.  We encourage healthy eating in our lunch hall by asking the children to make their plate colourful with vegetables and salad and we also ensure the children try new foods. At fruit time and during cooking sessions, we take the opportunity to discuss where our fruit and vegetables come from.  Throughout the year, we ensure children have first-hand experiences of planting (and eating!) herbs, potatoes, strawberries, green beans, etc.

Impact:

Design and technology teaching focuses on enabling children to design with purpose. We place an emphasis on planning, evaluating and improving as part of the design process. We encourage children to engage creatively and take ownership of their own design ideas. We recognise the importance of technical skills and we regard this as an important way of developing independence as well as creativity.

"D&T develops confident and capable young people with the potential to produce effective solutions to many of the problems we face today.”

The Design and Technology Association.