Scott Adams
At Willow Tree, we want all children to believe in themselves and their ability to respond, imagine and create.
We believe that teaching and learning in Art and Design lays out a pathway to us understanding different cultures and beliefs. It can also teach us a lot about our history and the different ways different people choose to respond to the world around us.
It is important to us, that Willow Tree children know that the famous artist L.S. Lowry was from our local area and that local landmarks have been named after him. Children will become familiar with his work and our local Gallery at Salford Quays.
We want children to understand how engaging in Artwork can help us to express ourselves in unique ways and that everyone can have an opinion about art that may differ from person to person.
It is our intention that pupils will be inspired by the range of artists, sculptors and craftspeople that they study in school. Our pupils will take ownership of their Art and Design journey by recording, exploring and inventing in their own personal sketchbooks.
Our Art and Design Curriculum at Willow Tree has been customised with our children at the heart of its design. All of our children will embark on a progressive journey which they can record in their own way in their personal sketchbooks. We want pupils to be creatively confident in Art and Design.
We feel that repetition and practice is very important which is why, in each year group, children will be taught the practical knowledge and skills in drawing in the Autumn term, painting in the Spring term and sculpture in the Summer term. This cycle is repeated and built upon in each year group to ensure that children can consolidate what they have learned previously and ensure readiness for what is to come.
Children will have the opportunity to focus on other aspects of Art and Design such as printing, collage and textiles during special projects, additional Art and Design curriculum days and home learning tasks.
We want to provide our children with the freedom to explore a range of media with different tools in the Early Years. With a view to developing skills in KS1.
In KS2, children will use their knowledge and skills to portray their ideas in a variety of contexts using.
Children in Key Stage 2 will also have many opportunities to work under the supervision of a real artist. Our artist in residence supports and enhances our curriculum in Art and Design by inspiring pupils with her own, current work. She delivers subject specific sessions using her specialist knowledge and skills. She provides a unique experience for pupils where they produce fantastic final pieces that are usually displayed around the school building.
Our Art and Design curriculum provides pupils with the fundamental skills and knowledge in drawing, painting and sculpture so that they feel confident to explore future opportunities and aspirations related to Art and Design.
Working directly with an artist, visiting galleries, and studying artists from the past and present day will ensure our children are exposed to and appreciate a wide variety of Art.
Our approach to being accepting and encouraging of the creative process that often leads to learning from mistakes will not only lead to creativity in art, but will provide lessons in resilience that will extend to other subjects and other areas of their lives.
Children will learn to develop their ‘talk ’in Art. They will appreciate the efforts of other people and respect their Art work even if they don’t like it personally.
Displaying and sharing the work they have created and showcasing the skills and progress they have made will empower children and increase their confidence.
Thomas Merton
Bob Ross
