At our school, we follow the Kapow Primary Art and Design scheme to deliver a rich and engaging curriculum that nurtures creativity and builds technical skill. From Reception to Year 2, pupils explore drawing, painting, and sculpture through carefully sequenced units that support artistic development and personal expression.

In Reception, children begin their artistic journey with the unit Marvellous Marks, where they explore a variety of materials and techniques to make expressive marks and begin observational drawing. In Paint My World, they experiment with colour mixing and painting using natural tools and finger painting, creating both abstract and figurative artworks. The Creation Station unit introduces sculpture through playdough and clay, allowing children to manipulate materials and learn basic sculptural vocabulary.

Year 1 builds on these foundations with Make Your Mark, a drawing unit that develops observational skills and introduces texture through different tools and collaborative projects. In Colour Splash, pupils explore colour mixing and painting on varied surfaces, inspired by artists such as Clarice Cliff and Jasper Johns. The sculpture unit Paper Play teaches children how to fold, cut, and assemble paper into three-dimensional forms, enhancing their fine motor skills and spatial awareness.

In Year 2, the drawing unit Tell a Story encourages pupils to use storybook illustrations as inspiration, refining their mark-making and exploring pattern and texture. The painting unit Life in Colour draws on the collage work of Romare Bearden, helping children consolidate their understanding of colour and texture through layered compositions. Finally, in Clay Houses, pupils design and build miniature houses using clay, learning joining techniques and exploring architectural forms.

This progression ensures that children develop confidence, creativity, and competence in art and design, with each unit offering opportunities to explore materials, respond to artists, and express their ideas visually.