Why is Art & Design important?

At Tottington Primary we believe by delivering high quality, engaging and challenging art lessons, we will inspire our children to gain the knowledge and skills they need to experiment, and create their own works of art, craft and design and progress successfully through the curriculum.

Creativity is a key factor in preparing our children to face the future with imagination, innovation, and to develop confidence in other subjects and life skills. Making art and design enjoyable and motivating will help develop positive attitudes in school and life beyond school, and provide the foundations for career pathways emerging from art and design; encouraging aspiring artists, designers, architects, and craft makers of the future.  It also benefits mental health and wellbeing by helping pupils to process feelings, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem. It has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system, and can actually raise serotonin levels. It also helps to aid concentration when the pupils are fully immersed in the process and enjoyment of the activity.

By studying the work of great artists, architects and designers from the past and present children will know how art and design reflects our history, have a greater understanding of different lives, and also have respect for cultures that are different from their own whilst at the same time enhancing their well-being.

What are the aims of our Art & Design curriculum?

At Tottington Primary School we are passionate about promoting high standards of Art and Design. Through combining the Early Years and National Curriculum with our TPS core values, our ambitious art curriculum equips all our children with the necessary skills and knowledge that we believe will contribute to the quality of our children’s lives, both within and beyond school. 

By the end of their time at Tottington Primary School, our children will have  improved their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials (for example, pencil, charcoal, paint and clay) and will be confident in sharing their ideas, experiences and imagination.

They will be able to talk about the work of great artists, architects and designers in history both female and male from differing cultures, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and make links to their own work. We want them to learn not only about well-known artists but other artists too. in addition to this, we will celebrate local artists and designers and learn about newer and less well-known craftspeople.  Our children will have learnt that concentration and persistence will enable them to create art in similar styles to great artists and have learned problem-solving skills when trying out new styles. Art and Design in the early years is taught and experienced through a mixture of child initiated, adult directed learning and open-ended play.

We see Art and Design as a means to support learning in a range of ways. The skills that are developed in these subjects can be transferred across the curriculum in a variety of ways. Through our well-planned, and sequenced Art and Design curriculum our children acquire the vital knowledge and skills required for the next stage of their learning journey and on into adulthood. This will enable the children of Tottington Primary School to become successful, active and positive members of their local community and the wider world.

Inclusive Practice