Art and Design teaching in the Ashington Learning Partnership reflects our guiding
principles of partnership and opportunity to provide enriching experiences for all pupils.
Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. The art and
design education that we deliver, engages, inspires and challenges pupils, equipping them
with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft
and design. As pupils progress through the Ashington Learning Partnership, they become
able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They
gain knowledge of how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to
the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
The Art and Design curriculum reflects the typical needs of our pupils to broaden and
deepen their vocabulary, develop greater oracy skills and help them to self-regulate their
behaviours and emotions through the exploration of famous artists and their influences
allowing children to gain an understanding of their own mental health. In EYFS the
curriculum ensures the EYFS learning and development requirements are met by
responding to children’s needs and interests whilst stimulating new interests and
addressing barriers to learning. Children have the opportunity to explore colour, thoughts
and feelings, media and materials and the exploration of the differences in their own and
others work this is done using the knowledge, skills and understanding developed through
the designers and cultural explorers passports.
In Key Stage 1 the art and design curriculum focuses upon providing opportunities for
enriching pupils’ experience of art and design. Children explore colour and mood, tone, a
range of media, pattern and texture and personal thoughts and feelings by exploring a
range of artists through the cultural explorers knowledge, skills and understanding
passport.
In Key Stage 2 it offers a challenging, broad, balanced and rich approach to art and design
with opportunities for children to apply their knowledge and skills and reflect on why this is
important in their own lives through the use of enquiry questions. Children build upon their
prior learning by exploring a range of styles, artists, sculpture, light, opportunities for STEM
and personal mental health.
To achieve this, the art and design curriculum provides a structured co-ordinated pathway
to maximise learning opportunities and ensure our aims are implemented. It includes the
knowledge, skills and understanding to be gained at each stage and enables