“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Pablo Picasso

St Mary’s C of E Primary believes that art is a vital part of children’s education, with a significant and valuable role in the taught curriculum and the enrichment opportunities we offer our pupils.  We use AccessArt and implement a two-year curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Art is taught as part of a termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum.  

The AccessArt Primary Art Curriculum promotes open-ended creative learning, placing emphasis on the creative journey and nurturing children to become confidence and independent creators.  In order to prepare children for the pathways in the Primary Art Curriculum, we use the AccessArt EYFS 7 areas of exploration and implement these to give pupils opportunities and experiences which enable them to:  

• Build dexterity skills

• Explore materials and mark making in a playful way

• Use bodies and imaginations to inspire making

• Explore how they can reflect and share their views about what they have seen or made

• Explore how art enriches our lives

Each pathway is bordered by a colour. These colours correspond to the area of focus of that pathway. We use the split curriculum from AccessArt and alternate Art & Design with Design Technology each term.