Art

Art and Design at Cribden House is a practical, expressive and creative subject that encourages pupils to explore, experiment and communicate using a wide range of visual media. The curriculum develops imagination, curiosity and enjoyment, while building confidence, independence and fine motor skills. Across all pathways, pupils are supported to use tools, materials and creative techniques safely and with purpose. Learning is multisensory, inclusive and rooted in meaningful experiences.

Being Pathway

On the Being Pathway, Art and Design forms part of Expressive Art and Design within the Being Curriculum. Children learn through a three-year cycle of engaging, sensory topics such as “All About Me,” “Seasons,” “Traditional Tales,” “Growing” and “Under the Sea.” Creativity is developed through play, exploration and child-led investigation.

Pupils explore colour, texture, shape and pattern using paints, collage materials, water, clay, natural objects and a wide range of sensory resources. Mark-making, printing, building, sticking and moulding allow children to express ideas in simple, physical ways. Staff encourage curiosity and experimentation, modelling language and supporting choice-making so children can begin to communicate preferences and responses.

Learning is joyful and immersive, taking place both indoors and outdoors. Every small creative step—from noticing a new texture to making intentional marks—is valued. Progress is recorded using photographs, observations and Tapestry evidence.

Doing Pathway

On the Doing Pathway, Art and Design sits within the Expressive Arts strand of the Doing Curriculum. Creativity is delivered through meaningful topics such as “Me & My Family,” “Homes,” “Animals,” “Buildings,” “Hot and Cold,” “People Who Help Us,” and “All Around the World.” Art is hands-on, sensory and experiential, giving pupils opportunities to develop independence, communication and confidence while expressing themselves.

Children explore a wide range of materials and techniques: painting, drawing, collage, textiles, sculpture and printmaking. They learn to combine media, respond to creative tasks and make choices about colour, shape and tools. Staff support pupils to develop fine motor control, experiment with cause and effect, and communicate ideas verbally, through symbols or through the artwork itself.

Art is embedded within real contexts—for example, creating animal textures during “Animal Antics,” designing transport sculptures during “Out & About,” or exploring natural materials in “Habitats.” Learning is sequenced through the seven Doing Curriculum Ranges so that every step of progress is recognised, whether a child is exploring materials for the first time or beginning to plan a finished piece.

Evidence is captured through photos, videos and Tapestry, celebrating creativity, engagement and increasing independence.

Thinking Pathway

On the Thinking Pathway, Art and Design is taught as a subject-specific part of a two-year thematic cycle. Pupils follow a progression of National Curriculum skills in drawing, painting, collage, digital art, printmaking and sculpture, using sketchbooks to plan, explore techniques and evaluate work.

Children learn about the work of artists, architects and designers, understanding how art reflects history, culture and society. They take part in extended creative projects linked to curriculum themes—creating mosaics in “Romans,” abstract space art in “Earthlings,” rainforest prints in “Amazon Adventures,” or movement-inspired sculpture in “Faster, Higher, Stronger!”

Lessons encourage independence, pride and creative thinking, while practical support, visuals and modelling ensure accessibility. Assessment is ongoing through discussion, questioning, sketchbooks, observation and photographic evidence, all linked to National Curriculum expectations.

Across all three pathways, Art and Design at Cribden House:

develops creativity, confidence and self-expression
supports communication through visual and sensory means
strengthens fine motor skills and independence
celebrates culture, diversity and imagination
values every creative step, from exploration to finished artwork

Art allows pupils to communicate who they are, respond to the world around them and take pride in their achievements. It gives every child a voice—whether through marks, textures, shapes or imaginative creations—and helps them become confident, expressive learners.