Expressive arts and design

“The development of children’s artistic and cultural awareness supports their imagination and creativity. It is important that children have regular opportunities to engage with the arts, enabling them to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. The quality and variety of what children see, hear and participate in is crucial for developing their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts. The frequency, repetition and depth of their experiences are fundamental to their progress in interpreting and appreciating what they hear, respond to and observe.”  EYFS Statutory Framework, 2021.

INTENT: In the Nursery and Pre-school we want children to be confident to sing songs and remember rhymes and to be able to use their imagination to create a story narrative in their play. We want our children to form and develop an idea, accessing resources independently. We want to provide children with art-inspired experiences. As our children grow and develop, we want them to become positive and confident performers who have a wide range of artistic skills.

IMPLEMENTATION: Throughout all area of learning and development, children will develop their storytelling language through the use of quality books. Art resources will be available daily for the children to use, with enhancements added when following their interests and requests.  During the Reception year, children will continue to have access to creative resources, through adult-directed activities and also working on projects of their choosing. They will find out about and try techniques of some famous artists. Children will experience music and singing throughout their week, enhanced with the guided use of instruments during Charanga sessions.

 

Adult led activities/Continuous Provision/linked stories (this will be added to as the year progresses)

Nursery and Pre-School

Reception

Autumn 1

  • Singing opportunities, nursery rhymes and counting songs
  • Observational art
  • Self-portrait art
  • Malleable materials: playdough available (cutters, rolling pins, moulds etc) 
  • Sensory play (vocabulary) - autumn tray, natural materials
  • Modelling opportunities (boxes, using different sticky tape)
  • Harvest songs
  • Art – block art (black line, simple blocks of colour)
  • Charanga – Me! (basic rhythm and pulse)
  • Art - Pastel pumpkins, fine motor autumn leaves
  • Artist focus - Piet Mondrian
  • Songs: Nursery rhymes, harvest songs and counting songs
  • Pretend play - home corner and ice cream cart

 

Autumn 2

  • Singing opportunities, nursery rhymes and counting songs.
  • Observational art
  • Malleable materials: playdough available (cutters, rolling pins, moulds etc) / clay
  • Modelling opportunities (boxes, using different sticky tape)
  • Sensory play (vocabulary) - natural materials, firework inspired.
  • Christmas songs & performance
  • Winter Art Day – decorate school

 

  • Charanga- My Stories
  • Artist focus - Jackson Pollock (fireworks)
  • Songs: Nativity, Julia Donaldson
  • Shape songs
  • Pretend play- Gruffalo play and Christmas café
  • Winter art day- decorate school

 

Spring

1

  • Singing opportunities, nursery rhymes and counting songs
  • Observational art
  • Malleable materials:  playdough available (cutters, rolling pins, moulds etc) / clay
  • Modelling opportunities (boxes, using different sticky tape)
  • Sensory play (vocabulary) - natural materials, ice inspired

 

 

  • Charanga: Everyone
  • Artist focus - Wilson Bentley - snowflakes
  • Clay/salt dough animals - paint with acrylic
  • Pretend play - ice igloo/cafe - develop storylines in pretend play
  • Develop own Blue Penguin song - You're a Penguin and You know it...

Spring

2

  • Singing opportunities, nursery rhymes and counting songs.
  • Observational art
  • Malleable materials: playdough available (cutters, rolling pins, moulds etc) / clay
  • Sensory play (vocabulary) - natural materials,
  • Modelling opportunities (boxes, using different sticky tape)
  • Easter/spring songs
  • Charanga: Our World
  • Artist focus - Monet
  • Design a Bog Baby - to explore, use and refine a variety of artistic effects to express their ideas and feelings

Summer 1

  • Singing opportunities, nursery rhymes and counting songs
  • Observational art 
  • Malleable materials: playdough available (cutters, rolling pins, moulds etc) / clay
  • Sensory play (vocabulary)  
  • Modelling opportunities (boxes, using different sticky tape)
  • Forest School – hapa zome

 

 

  • Charanga: Big Bear Funk
  • Artist focus - Giuseppe Arcimboldo - fruit faces
  • Designing and building evil pea traps
  • Designing capes and masks

 

Summer 2

  • Singing opportunities, nursery rhymes and counting songs
  • Observational art 
  • Malleable materials: playdough available (cutters, rolling pins, moulds etc) / clay
  • Sensory play (vocabulary) 
  • Modelling opportunities (boxes, using different sticky tape)

 

  • Charanga: Reflect, rewind and replay
  • End of term portraits - compare to first picture
  • Artist focus - Van Gogh

 

IMPACT: Nursery & Pre-School children will be able to talk about and develop their ideas through art, sculpture, music, dance or storytelling, confidently using the resources available. We will monitor the impact to ensure children are ‘on track’ in the developmental age band 3 -4 years.  By the end of Reception, children will be able to express their thoughts and feelings through singing, music, art and other creative means.

Positive Play Partners

06 Dec 2024

Our PPP children are relishing supporting our OPAL play initiative, ensuring children have role models to help resolve issues and have happy...

Winter Coats - Does your child need one?

02 Dec 2024

We have warm, winter coats for children of families struggling with the cost of living.
Please contact us for more details.

Dunalley Pantry

20 Nov 2024

We would like to remind our families about Dunalley Pantry.
Set up to help families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Coffee, Cake, Cheese & Wine - Thank you

18 Nov 2024

Thank you for joining us to discuss the work of Jonathan Haidt and his book The Anxious Generation, more information can be found HERE.

Donations for OPAL

25 Oct 2024

If you are thinking of having a pre-Christmas sort out please keep OPAL in mind for the usual donations.

OPAL Stay & Play

27 Sep 2024

We would like to invite all of our families to join us for an OPAL Stay & Play on Saturday 5th October from 10am - 12pm.

Free Uniform

01 Sep 2024

We have lots of unclaimed uniform items here at school, should you need anything for your child(ren) please pop along and see us.

Back to School

08 Aug 2024

We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday 4th September

Dunalley Pantry

31 Jul 2024

Our Dunalley Pantry will be open during the school holidays.
9am to 10.30am on Thursdays 1st, 8th & 29th August


Helping where we can.

Exceptional Learners

22 Jul 2024

Thank you to all of our children for their hard work and perseverance this year. Visitors to our school always comment on our focused learners.