Art & Design

Intent

The aim of our Art and Design curriculum is to ensure that every child who leaves Hiltingbury Infant School is an inspired, creative and reflective learner/artist. We aim for all children to know that they have the possibility to become an artist in the future. During their time at Hiltingbury Infant School children are provided with a range of opportunities in Art and Design including; painting, printmaking, collage, drawing, sculpture (3D design), textiles and using ICT/computing to produce art work. Throughout their learning in Art and Design children are introduced to the work of artists, crafts people and designers from a variety of cultures, from our local area, from the past and the present to inspire them as a starting point for their own learning. This enables them to think critically and to raise curiosity about the world of art and culture.

At Hiltingbury Infants School, we believe, the characteristics of a successful artist are:

• An ability to use, experiment with art and design techniques to create a desired outcome.

• Recording from first-hand experience and from imagination, and select their own ideas to use in their work

• Developing creativity and imagination through a range of challenging activities.

• An ability to control materials, tools and art and design techniques.

• An ability to make connections between their own and the work of artists in different times and cultures.

• An ability to develop confidence in the use of visual and tactile elements and material

• Fostering an enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts and build knowledge of artists, craftspeople and designers.

• An ability to recall and describe using artistic vocabulary e.g. colour, pattern, texture, line, shape and form within their own and others artwork.

• An ability to observe, use their imagination and share ideas or experiences

There are three big ideas which underpin our curriculum:

· Exploring and developing ideas creatively

· Mastering techniques

· Taking inspiration from the greats

Implementation

Our Art and Design curriculum is thoughtfully designed through carefully planned topics which build knowledge and skills progressively from the EYFS to Year 2.

We foster a culture of creativity where children feel confident to experiment, express their unique ideas and build pride in their artistic outcomes by:

Progressive skill building: Techniques in drawing painting and additional core element are revisited practiced, and deepened as children move from EYFs through Key Stage 1.

Contextual and thematic learning: Art topics are purposefully mapped to cross curricular topics to make learning meaningful and for children to experience how history, story telling and culture can be brought to life.

Artistic appreciation: In every topic, children are introduced to and learn about diverse artists, crafts people and art movements. They learn to describe similarities and differences between styles, talk about artworks using rich art vocabulary and evaluate their own peers’ work with kindness and reflection.

Enrichment opportunities: There are carefully planned opportunities for children to showcase their achievements to peers, teachers and parents. We invite local artists and craftspeople into school to host workshops, giving children a glimpse into the real world creative pathways.

Impact

The impact of our Art & Design curriculum goes beyond the classroom wall displays. By the time children leave Key Stage 1, they have developed as confident, expressive, and reflective young artists who take genuine pride in their creative achievements.

Children use art as a meaningful outlet to process feelings, communicate ideas, and share their unique perspectives on the world.

Children demonstrate clear progression in their technical abilities—confidently applying drawing, painting, printing, collage, and sculpting techniques with increasing control and precision.

Pupils talk knowledgeably and fluently about their own work and the art of diverse artists (such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol), using rich language to describe line, shape, colour, texture, and pattern.

Children create individual and collaborative pieces that reflect deep engagement, thoughtful planning in their sketchbooks, and pride in their final masterpieces.

Through peer reviews, self-evaluation, and gallery exhibitions, children learn to evaluate their own and others' work with empathy, constructive praise, and critical reflection.

Assessment

To ensure our Art & Design curriculum remains inspiring and effective, we continuously monitor pupils' progress through:

Sketchbook & Portfolio Reviews: Observing individual growth, experimentation, and skill development over time.

Pupil Voice Discussions: Talking with children about their artwork, their artist inspirations, and the techniques they enjoyed exploring.

Classroom & School Displays: Celebrating high-quality outcomes in pop-up exhibitions and whole-school galleries.

Ultimately, our Art & Design curriculum equips every child with the foundational artistic skills, cultural curiosity, and creative confidence needed to thrive as they transition to Key Stage 2 and beyond.

Send and Inclusion

At Hiltingbury Infant School, we believe that a high-quality, inclusive art provision builds and develops self-belief and confidence in children and young people. For many pupils with special educational needs/disabilities, art and design is a subject in which pupils have the same starting point as their peers. We believe that creative expression has no single right answer and that every child can flourish as an artist. To support all learners we adapt our art environment, tools and teaching strategies so that all pupils can participate, experiment and succeed.

Key Vocabulary

Primary colours: The three basic colours that cannot be made by mixing other colours together.

Secondary colours: Colours made by mixing two primary colours together

Hue: The name of a pure colour without any black or white added.

Tone: Describes how light or dark a colour is

Shade: A colour made darker by adding black to it.

Palette: A surface used by artists to hold, organise and mix paints.

Outline: the outer boundary line that defines the edge of an object or shape

Sketch: A quick drawing used to test ideas, capturing basic shapes and layout.

Hatching: lines used to create shading

Cross Hatching: layering of lines to create shading

Symmetry: When one half of a shape or picture is a precise mirror image of the other half.

Silhouette: The dark shape or outline of something visible against a lighter background.

Tessellation: A repeating apptern of shapes that fit together with no gaps.

Pattern: A repeated design.

Collage: Artwork made by gluing different materials onto a surface

Malleable: A soft material that can easily be shaped