At ESPS the art and design curriculum is fully inclusive. Our aims are to: fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for art and design and D&T, provide a broad and balanced curriculum, ensure the progressive development of knowledge and skills, encourage children to be environmentally intelligent when using resources and developing creative and curious children, who have the ability to solve problems.

Art and design and D&T teaching at ESPS instils an appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts. 

The aims of teaching art and design in our school are:

• To engage, inspire and challenge 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 school, they should begin to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design and D&T.
• To produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
• To become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques.
• To critically evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
• To know about great artists, architects, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
• To ensure that children are taught to design, make and evaluation their work using a range of processes.

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in art and design and D&T, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Art and design and D&T are taught from Reception to Year 6, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum, using Thinking School methodologies to enable the children to design, make and evaluate.

The art and design and D&T curriculum at ESPS is based upon the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England, which provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each Key Stage. Teachers plan lessons for their class using our progression grids for both art and design and D&T. The progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills/knowledge taught is progressive from year group to year group.

At ESPS, we provide a variety of opportunities for art and design and D&T learning to take place inside and outside the classroom. These include trips to local galleries, outdoor learning and a planned Arts Week for the Summer Term. 

Within art and design and D&T, we strive to instil an appreciation and enjoyment of the arts enriching the children’s learning experience. Our art and design and D&T curriculum is high quality, well-thought-out and is planned to demonstrate progression. This is evidenced in their individual sketch books, which follows them from Reception to Year 6.