Building on Meanwood’s vision and values and the National Curriculum for art and design, we aim to provide an exceptional art and design education that embraces our school vision.

Open Hearts – We create a cooperative learning environment, encouraging children to work together, share ideas, valuing and respecting each other’s creations. 

Open Minds – We inspire our children to strive for excellence in art and design, supporting them to develop their creativity imagination and individuality. We celebrate their achievements and encourage them to reach their full potential. 

Open Arms – We foster empathy in our pupils, encouraging them to understand and appreciate a range of other cultures and art from around the world. We promote an inclusive environment where all learners feel valued and supported in their creative journey.

Intent

At Meanwood, we are dedicated to nurturing our pupil’s art abilities, fostering a love for the subject, and allowing pupil’s to express themselves through art and design. The curriculum will provide children with the opportunity to experience and create a wide variety of artwork that use various mediums and artistic techniques to develop their skills. We will provide pupils with experiences both in and out of the classroom that develop their cultural capital; giving them a wide appreciation of art and artists whilst also promoting a questioning mind: offering critique and informed opinion. There will be numerous opportunities to create pieces of art that showcase their own identities, skills and talents, as well as using influences from the most creative, artistic minds. We will also ensure that children have pride in their work and develop a resilient mindset. 

Implementation

At Meanwood, the teaching and implementation of the art and design curriculum is based on the National Curriculum. Art and design is taught through deliberate practice in a supportive environment which enables pupils to improve their fluency. Our balanced art and design curriculum is planned and sequenced appropriately in order to develop the skills required to create final pieces of work that demonstrate knowledge of a particular technique or style. Art and Design promotes diversity and is used to express individual pupil’s personal and cultural identity. Pupils will have the necessary knowledge and understanding to appreciate a range of art forms and artists/ designers from a wide range of cultures.

Impact

At Meanwood our aim is keep all the children working together at broadly the same place by taking small steps in learning.

Formative assessment

Children’s progress is assessed in lessons through regular feedback, high quality questioning and regular retrieval practice.  Children are encouraged to work in mixed ability partners as well in smaller supported groups. Children have opportunity to self-evaluate and evaluate as a group providing constructive peer feedback.

Summative assessment

Over the course of the year, children work towards year group end points across a range of specific skills in the art curriculum.  As children cover the half-termly units, they evidence their understanding of the end points.  Teachers use this information to inform future lessons, ensuring pupils are supported and challenged appropriately. This data is analysed on a termly basis to inform and address any trends or gaps in attainment.

Children in the Foundation Stage are assessed within Expressive Arts and Design and their progress is tracked termly. Age related expectation levels are reported to parents at the end of the reception year.

Staff Development

Training needs are identified as a result of whole school monitoring and evaluation, performance management and through self-analysis. The subject leader is keen to share best practice and disseminate up-to-date initiatives to staff via planned CPD and development time. This will ensure the subject is constantly evolving to meet the demands of curriculum expectations.

Monitoring

The subject leader, SLT and Governors all play a role in the monitoring of Art and design at Meanwood. Regular monitoring via learning walks, book looks and pupil/staff voice feedback ensures the subject is constantly being reviewed and regulated to ensure the best learning opportunities for all.