At St Mary's we believe that from children's starting point in the EYFS, art and design allows children to develop practical skills and knowledge using a variety of materials and techniques so that ideas can be planned and developed both successfully and imaginatively. Through the subject, children should be able to make choices and develop visual perception and environmental awareness. Also, they are taught to recognise the aesthetic pleasure of art and learn how to be able to express opinions about their own and others’ art and design work.

Our art and design curriculum is planned with the aim for children to:

• Develop practical skills and knowledge using a variety of materials and techniques so that ideas can be planned and developed both successfully and imaginatively.
• Be able to make choices and develop visual perception and environmental awareness.
• Recognise the aesthetic pleasure of art and be able to express opinions about their own and others’ art work.
• Develop the ability to work both independently and collaboratively on art projects.
• Be able to understand and respond to the world around them through visual and tactile means.
• Develop an awareness and understanding of the potential of line, shape, colour, pattern, texture, tone, form, materials, tools and communication of what they see, feel and think.
• Be able to study/observe images and artefacts from different periods, cultures and traditions; applying this knowledge to their own work.

Through our scheme of work we develop our pupils ability to work both independently and collaboratively on art projects, whilst understanding and responding to the world around them through visual or tactile means. They have opportunities to develop their imagination and creativity.

A crucial part of our approach is fostering an awareness and understanding of the potential of line, shape, colour, pattern, texture, tone, form, materials, tools and communication of what children see, feel and think. At our school our pupils are given time to be able to study/observe images and artefacts from different periods, cultures and traditions; applying this knowledge to their own work.