Our Intent – What We Want for our Children
At Barley Fields, we believe that art is a vital part of every child’s education. Creativity takes courage and we want our children to be fearless, authentic and confident in expressing themselves.
Our art curriculum encourages children to explore, experiment and play, developing their individuality while learning to appreciate the world around them. Through our curriculum they will discover a wide range of artists, both local and global, past and present, and understand how art can communicate ideas across cultures and through time.
We aim for children to leave Barley Fields with a love of art, a curiosity for creativity, and the skills to express themselves confidently.
Our Implementation – How We Teach Art
Our progressive art curriculum supports creativity from Early Years to Year 6. Learning is hands-on, practical, and focused on building skills over time.
Children explore four main mediums:
- Painting
- Drawing
- 3D Modelling and Sculpture
- Printing and Collage
Through these, they develop skills in key elements of art such as texture, colour, shape, line, pattern, form and space. Art is taught in blocks to allow sustained study, with opportunities to use high-quality resources, sketchbooks, and specialist tools.
We also enrich the curriculum through visits and themed projects. Our curriculum character Alex the Artist helps children reflect on the skills needed to develop as confident, capable artists.
Our Impact – the difference it makes.
Our Art curriculum enables children to:
- Explore, experiment and express themselves creatively
- Communicate ideas and feelings through personal interpretation
- Develop a sense of curiosity and appreciation of the world around them
- Work skillfully and pay attention to detail
- Celebrate diverse artists and understand art’s impact on culture and everyday life
- Foster a lasting love and appreciation of art
Children leave Barley Fields with a wide range of artistic experiences, confidence in their creativity, and the skills to continue developing as artists.
