"Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art."

Don Miguel Ruiz

Art & Design

At Gillas Lane, we value Art & Design and its position in the curriculum. It isn't just something that we do at the end of the term or as a treat on a Friday afternoon; it is given time, it is valued and it is celebrated.

 

Long Term Plans

Our Art & Design long term plans have been carefully designed so that children know more, can do more and remember more.

 

We have four core areas of art and design that are revisited in each year group; Drawing, Painting and Mixed Media, Sculpture and 3D and Craft and Design.

 

Lessons have been carefully sequenced to ensure that each lesson builds on the previous one to provide opportunities for children to practise skills and apply their knowledge to consolidate learning. It is a pleasure to see our Gillas Lane children thinking like artists and becoming artists!

These are our long term plans for Art & Design.

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Art & Design Progressive Milestones in Disciplinary Learning

Our Art & Design Milestones contain the disciplinary knowledge needed to understand the disciplinary concepts. Our mid term planning specifies the substantive knowledge the children will learn.

 

 

Disciplinary Knowledge - thinking like an artist

How an artist considers

  • colour
  • form
  • line
  • shape
  • space
  • texture & pattern
  • value & appreciation

Take a look at our Milestones in Disciplinary Learning:

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Substantive Knowledge

Knowledge about art history and artists

  • the work of specific artists (current, historical, local and international)
  • how art has changed over time (styles and movements)

Knowledge about elements of art (mediums, materials and techniques)

  • drawing, painting & mixed media, sculpture & 3D, craft & design

 

Take a look at our Substantive Knowledge Progression Map:

 

 

 

The Importance of Art and Design in the Early Years

 

At Gillas Lane, we believe that art and design are essential components of early childhood education. These creative experiences are not only enjoyable for our youngest children, but also play a vital role in their overall development.

 

Engaging in art and design activities helps our children to develop important cognitive skills. As they explore materials, experiment with colours, and make creative choices, they begin to understand key concepts such as shape, pattern, and cause and effect. These early experiences lay the groundwork for problem-solving and critical thinking.

 

Art also supports language development - something we value highly at Gillas Lane, with Rich Vocabulary being one of our Key Drivers. When children talk about their creations, they learn to express their thoughts and feelings, build vocabulary, and develop storytelling skills. These conversations are a valuable part of their communication journey.

 

Fine motor skills are strengthened through hands-on activities like drawing, painting, cutting, and gluing. These tasks help our children to develop the coordination and control needed for writing and other everyday tasks.

 

Emotionally, art provides a safe and meaningful way for our children to express themselves. It builds confidence, encourages independence, and allows them to explore their feelings in a supportive environment. Socially, working on group projects fosters collaboration, sharing, and respect for others’ ideas.

 

Creativity and imagination are at the heart of art and design. These experiences encourage our Gillas children to think in new ways, explore different perspectives, and appreciate the richness of diverse cultures and artistic traditions.

 

Above all, art and design nurture a love of learning. They inspire curiosity, resilience, and joy - qualities that support our children not only in the classroom, but throughout their lives.

 

Take a look at our Art and Design Early Years Link Documents to see how the skills our children develop in the Early Years feed into the curriculum once they move into Key Stage 1 and beyond.

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Art & Design and SEND

 

We know that Art and design can be a powerful tool for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, providing a means of self-expression, boosting self-esteem, and developing various skills. For students with SEND, Art and Design can offer unique opportunities for learning, communication, and creative exploration. 

 

Take a look at how we adapt our curriculum to support pupils with SEND:

 

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