Art and Design

At Spring Lane, art is a creative journey that nurtures self-expression, imagination, and cultural understanding. Rooted in our principles of relevance, experiences, and collaboration, our art curriculum empowers children to explore a diverse range of techniques, materials, and artistic traditions—making learning meaningful, inclusive, and reflective of the world around them. From drawing local landmarks in Spring Boroughs to studying artists and movements, pupils develop technical skills while finding their unique artistic voice. Hands-on experiences and collaborative projects allow children to flourish as expert learners and effective communicators, experimenting, reflecting, and refining their ideas with increasing confidence. Through celebrating creativity and developing resilience in the face of challenge, pupils grow as aspirational thinkers and healthy Individuals, while learning to value the power of art to inspire, connect, and bring about positive change. Our art curriculum helps children become caring citizens who appreciate diverse perspectives and express themselves with empathy and purpose.

At Spring Lane, art is taught through creative, experience-rich learning quests that nurture imagination, self-expression, and a deep appreciation of the visual world. A strong focus is placed on building secure foundations in drawing and painting, with every year group beginning the year with a dedicated drawing unit that develops progressive skills and knowledge. Each unit also includes an artist study, helping children to connect their learning to real artists, diverse artistic traditions, and creative practices both locally and globally.

Across all art units, links are made between art in the classroom and art in the wider environment, showing pupils how artistic skills can be seen in everyday life and exploring the potential for future creative careers. Progression in sculpture and textiles is carefully planned, giving children opportunities to work with a variety of materials and techniques while developing independence, resilience, and high aspirations for what they can achieve by the end of Key Stage 2. Through rich experiences such as workshops, sketchbook work, and outdoor art, pupils grow in confidence and skill, collaborating to share ideas, offer feedback, and produce artwork that celebrates their creativity and the diverse community of Spring Boroughs. In this way, art at Spring Lane empowers children to become Effective Communicators, Expert Learners, and Caring Citizens who value culture, creativity, and expression in the world around them.

The impact of our art curriculum at Spring Lane is seen in creative, confident learners who express themselves thoughtfully and respond to the world visually and emotionally. Children develop originality, imagination, and skill as they explore materials, techniques, and ideas with increasing independence. Learning is rooted in relevance—children create artwork that reflects their experiences, identities, community, and the wider world, from sketching landmarks in Spring Boroughs to interpreting global themes through different artistic styles. These meaningful, hands-on experiences ensure that artistic skills and understanding are retained and transferred across contexts. Through collaboration, children learn to share ideas, evaluate work respectfully, and support each other’s creativity—building resilience, self-awareness, and pride in their individual and collective achievements. They see themselves as artists, capable of making choices, solving problems, and using visual language to tell stories, ask questions, and inspire change.

Pupils’ artistic development is assessed using the following:

● Sketchbook evidence to show progression of ideas, experimentation, and technique.

● Formative assessment through observation, discussion, and feedback during lessons.

● Pupil voice to understand how children talk about their work and reflect on their creative decisions.

● Final outcomes that demonstrate application of taught skills, originality, and expression.