Art

Art and Design

Aims

At Leven Valley Primary we want our children to love art and design! We want them to understand that there are no limits to their creativity and ambitions and to embed the belief that through art, anything is possible!

Art lessons are fun and creative and are the perfect way for our children to express their own individuality.

Art and design should stimulate our childrens’ imagination and creativity. Through our lessons, children should be able to communicate effectively what they see, think and feel, and show how they each uniquely interpret the world around them.

Our lessons aim to engage, challenge and inspire the children as well as having a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

How is it taught?

Art and design is taught in all classes once a week as an individual subject as well as incorporated into other curriculum lessons to enrich them.

We encourage the children to experiment with their own ideas and, across the key stages, develop a wide range of artistic techniques exploring the seven visual elements of colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space.

We provide them with lots of opportunities to use different media, materials and processes,  to further develop their skills in drawing, painting, sculpture as well as other arts and craft techniques.

Children are supported in experimenting with coloured pencils, graphite pencils, watercolours, pastels, chalk, charcoal, acrylics, inks, textiles, clay and other malleable materials and tools.

We ensure all pupils have access to a range of good quality resources and materials, helping them to achieve their potential and also allowing for varied, individual outcomes.

In our lessons, we often take inspiration from a diverse range of famous artists, sculptors, architects and designers to create their own masterpieces, and in Classes 2 and 3, to also learn about the historical and cultural impact of each artist and artistic movement or period. We try to compare the difference and similarities between different methods, techniques and practices and make links to our own work.

In Class 2, we have a weekly “artist appreciation walk” where we rotate around the classroom taking on the role of art connoisseurs, drawing inspiration from our peers’ creations as well as sharing a positive critique with our friends!

In key stage 2, we introduce a sketch book to record observations and practise various techniques taught. These are an invaluable way to revisit previous ideas and techniques and are also a great way to show progression in art right up to leaving in Year 6.

At Leven Valley, we are so lucky to have some wonderfully stimulating outdoor areas to inspire us and get our creative juices flowing! We can often be found crafting outside in the natural light on the field and playground, in the quad, in the woods and beneath the trees, immersing ourselves in the natural environment. We also use patterns, textures, colours and shapes found outside as materials to work with.

We are also blessed with a fantastic after school art club, open to all ages, which is run by one of our parents who has made a career out of art. Here, the children are given yet more opportunities to learn from a very experienced, talented artist, enhancing our provision.

Impact

Art encourages confidence, fine motor skills, neural development and problem-solving ability and it can also be used to teach and understand other key subjects.

It is valuable because it allows children to process their world in a safe way and gives them critical sensory input. but of course, it is important for it’s own sake- as a source of beauty and expression as well as simply for the process of creating.

Art is also fun! It’s often quoted as one of the favourite subjects of a lot of Leven Valley children! 

“Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.” Sydney Gurewitz Clemens

“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colours flowers, so does art colour life!” John Lubbock