Art

Intent

Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences, and a way of understanding and responding to the world. The children at Leiston Primary School use their art work as a form of visual communication and personal expression in a variety of media and techniques. Our aim is to foster creative confidence and a sense of curiosity which children can carry with them beyond their primary school years.

Implementation

Art is taught throughout the school from Nursery to Year 6. Art may be taught as a discrete lesson or taught through cross curricular lessons. We follow the Kapow Art and Design scheme of work which allows the children to develop practical making skills through the mediums of drawing, painting, mixed media and sculpture as well as learning about and discussing a range of artists and craftspeople.  We are very keen for the children to experience working with experts and so have arranged a number of workshops where children get the opportunity to work for the day with an artist.  These have been really inspirational experiences for our pupils.

Impact

Progression is supported by the focus on discrete lessons, while creativity is further encouraged and developed through the cross-curricular approach. Discussions with pupil parliament have shown that Art is celebrated throughout the school and children feel supported to experiment with their creativity.

If you would like to support your child in the development of their creative skills, these websites may be useful:

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids

https://www.accessart.org.uk/art-resources-for-home/

https://thebigdraw.org/

https://firstsite.uk/art-is-where-the-home-is/

Art LTP

Here are some examples of art across the school.

Cross curricular Art

As well as our discrete Art lessons we enjoy cross curricular art throughout the school such as in Reception where we explored the seasons through our "Pumpkin Patch" paintings  and our beautiful snowflake prints.

Science Fair

In December 2024 Leiston Primary School hosted it's Science Fair in school.  Part of that was a section "Art and Science" where different year groups exhibited art made though science.

Young East Anglian Artists 

This year we participated in the Young East Anglian Artists Competition.  The theme was "Connections" and we were amazed by all the different responses and what this meant to the children.  7 of our young artists were chosen to be exhibited in the art show held in Woodbridge.  Parents and carers had the opportunity to see all pieces of art when we held our own show in school, at the same time raising money for "Cancer Research UK".

Design and Technology

Intent

The pupils will be guided to design their own products by researching user needs and designing specifications to match these. They will learn how to use specialist tools, techniques, and processes to make these products and test and evaluate them by considering the views of intended users.

The pupils will develop their knowledge, understanding of food preparation and nutrition and will advance their cooking skills. The pupils will develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently. They will build and apply a variety of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users. They will critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products against design specifications and criteria.

The pupils will develop interest, enthusiasm and curiosity for Design and Technology. They will acquire an understanding of nutrition and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook. They will become critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. The pupils will learn to ask relevant questions about their designs and products and think critically about the answers. The curriculum ensures that pupils will know and remember the key information studied.

Implementation

Skills and content

In the curriculum the pupils learn about a variety of practical skills through various Design Technology projects.

The order of these projects and the structure of this curriculum has been designed to allow for sequential skill development. Our curriculum follows the design, make and evaluate steps at each keys stage whilst continually developing new technical skills throughout.

Pupils learn how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world. The pupils learn a variety of practical skills covering Resistant Material, Textiles, Food Prep and Nutrition. These develop through the whole school, from the EYFS to Year 6.

 Regular planning sessions ensure coverage is thorough.

LTP for DT 2024-2025

Children will revisit the different areas within DT throughout their time at Leiston, progressively building on their knowledge and skills.  Here are the skills we expect children to learn at the different stages:

Food and Nutrition

Foundation Stage: Begin to develop a food vocabulary using taste, smell, texture and feel. They start to think about the need for a variety of foods in a diet. Understand need for basic hygiene when handling food.

Key Stage 1: Begin to understand that all food comes from plants or animals. Begin to develop children’s peeling and chopping skills.  Assemble ingredients to prepare food, using simple tools to cut, peel or grate safely and hygienically. Know that food has to be farmed, grown elsewhere (e.g. home) or caught. Understand how to name and to sort into food groups. Begin to use techniques such as cutting, peeling and grating.  Prepare food safely and hygienically, measuring and weighing ingredients using measuring cups and digital scales.

Lower Key Stage 2 : Begin to know that food is grown (such as tomatoes, wheat and potatoes), reared (such as pigs, chickens and cattle) and caught (such as fish) in the UK, Europe and the wider world. Be able to use a range of techniques such as peeling, chopping, slicing and grating. Follow a recipe, using appropriate utensils and measuring skills to prepare predominantly savoury dishes safely and hygienically. 

Upper Key Stage 2: Understand that seasons may affect the food available. Understand how food is processed into ingredients that can be eaten or used in cooking. Become increasingly skilled at peeling, chopping, slicing, grating, mixing, kneading and baking. As designers, create and refine recipes that demonstrate a range of baking and cooking techniques, applying previously learned skills.

Textiles

Foundation stage: Children are exposed to different fabrics and experiment with cutting and collaging.

Key Stage 1: Children learn how to weave. Children learn how to sew and join fabrics using a running stitch. Children learn how to cut  out shapes which have been created by drawing round a template onto the fabric. Children  begin to sew using a range of basic stitches

Lower Key Stage 2: Children are able to join fabrics using a range of stitches with increasing independence. They learn how to add further decoration to their work using buttons , beads, sequins etc.

Upper Key Stage 2: Children can create  products using pattern pieces and demonstrate an awareness of seam allowance. Children can pin and tack fabric pieces together. They can join fabrics  by over sewing,  back stitch and blanket stitch. Children are able to make quality products with increasing accuracy and independence. 

Structures

Foundation stage: Begin to build structures with a range of materials inside and out.

Key Stage 1: Begin to build structures, joining components together to create a finished product. Explore how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable.

Lower Key Stage 2: Build structures with increasing  independence . Begin to demonstrate  a growing understanding of how to reinforce and strengthen their finished products.

Upper Key Stage 2: Build innovative, functional, appealing, structures that are fit for purpose. Evidence how products can be made stronger and more stable. Use finishing techniques to strengthen and improve the appearance of their models.

Mechanisms

Foundation stage: With support begin to incorporate moving parts into models.  For example, use split pins to make body parts move.

Key Stage 1: With some initial support and then progressively more independence, begin to explore and use simple mechanisms . For example, use sliders in moving pictures, hinges into models etc. Begin to incorporate wheels and axles into their products.

Lower Key Stage 2: Begin to develop an understanding  that mechanical systems such as levers and linkages or pneumatic systems can  create movement.  Begin to incorporate these into their products.

Upper Key Stage 2: Develop an understanding of  how cams, pulleys or gears create movement. Create and use prototypes. Investigate products incorporating circuits. Design and make products with these features.

Impact

Teacher guiding of first practise supports pupils with new knowledge and skills when they first use it and ensures that misconceptions are immediately rectified.

Pupils are targeted for guiding based on the assessment information gleaned from lesson questioning and distance feedback.

Learning tasks are differentiated so that pupils focus on their precise next steps and practise what they most need to practise. Distance feedback, questioning and guiding allows the teacher to glean the assessment information necessary to plan this.

Teacher questioning about and after all explanations, using techniques to ensure that all pupils are included in the questioning, allows the teacher to assess the level of understanding of their teaching. This allows future explanations to be planned during lessons. This keeps pupils at the point of learning. Teachers monitor and track the achievement of skills learning of content to plan accordingly.

STEM Ambassadors Inspire Year 3 with Design and Technology

This half term, our Year 3 students are getting hands-on with design and technology, and they’re being guided by our incredible STEM ambassadors! The class is diving into an exciting project where they will learn to build their very own pneumatic tipper trucks. Through this project, they will explore the fascinating world of mechanics, pneumatics, and engineering, while developing problem-solving and teamwork skills. Our STEM ambassadors are here to inspire, support, and share their knowledge, making this learning experience both fun and educational. Stay tuned for updates on their progress and the amazing creations they’re building!

Leiston Christmas Fair

Students are set the challenge of making and selling products at our whole school Christmas Fair with a budget of only £10.  A real life challenge to appeal to the market!

Knex Challenge.  

Year 5 and 6 explore Knex and are set the challenge of making a moving windmill.

Castles

Children in Year 1 learn about the history and structure of castles.

DT in the Foundation Stage

Children in Reception exploring and investigating Design and Technology through their play.