We aim to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for art and design by:

• providing a broad and balanced curriculum,
• ensuring the progressive development of knowledge and skills,
• enabling children to observe and record from first-hand experience and from imagination,
• developing the children’s competence in controlling materials and tools,
• providing opportunities for children to acquire knowledge and become proficient in various art and design techniques and processes,
• ensuring children begin to develop an awareness of the visual and tactile elements including; colour, pattern and texture, line and tone, shape, form and space,
• fostering enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and developing a knowledge of significant artists, craftspeople and designers,
• analysing works using the language of art and design.
• encouraging children to develop a critical awareness of the roles and purposes of art and design in different times and cultures.

At Captain Cook Primary School, we believe that art and design should be fully inclusive to every child. Art and design teaching at Captain Cook Primary School instils an appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts. Our bespoke Art curriculum provides children with opportunities to develop their skills using a range of media and materials. Children learn the skills of drawing, painting, printing, collage, textiles, 3D work and digital art, and are given the opportunity to explore and evaluate different creative ideas. Our aim is to provide an encouraging learning environment, which stimulates imagination and creativity. The skills children acquire are applied to their crosscurricular topics; allowing children to use their art skills to reflect on and explore topics in greater depth. In our art and design lessons, children are expected to be reflective and evaluate their work, thinking about how they can make changes and keep improving. This should be meaningful and continuous throughout the process, with evidence of age-related verbal and written refection. Children are encouraged to take risks, experiment, and then reflect on why some ideas and techniques are successful or not for a particular project.