Art & Design
"Every child is an artist." Pablo Picasso
Art at Mossgate Primary School focuses on nurturing children on their journey as artists. Children at Mossgate love art; their enthusiasm and confidence shines through the art that they produce. Children are taught to experiment, refine and practice their skills as they build up to a final outcome that they can feel proud of. Every child's artistic vision is valued, nurtured and supported through each key stage.
Art & Design at Mossgate Primary School
At Mossgate Primary School our overarching aims are that all children:
produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
Art at Mossgate is taught with leading 'elements of art' focuses, to provide children with opportunities to explore and observe colour, tone, form, texture, shape and line.
As they move through the key stages, children are taught to refine their skills in our key strands: drawing, painting, collage, printing, 3D work, working creatively, evaluating creative works and observing great artists.
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Art in the EYFS: What Does Art Look Like for our Little Saplings Nursery and our Reception Elm Class Artists?
"Before a child talks, they sing. Before they write, they draw. As soon as they stand, they dance. Art is fundamental to human expression."
Phylicia Rashad
Exploring ready mixed paint in Elm Class.
Painting poppies as part of the "Me & My World of Celebrations" theme by an Elm Class artist.
Early colour mixing experimentation by a Little Saplings artist.
Some of our Little Saplings artists exploring colour mixing on ice using watercolour paints.
A Little Saplings artist representing objects and places with paint.
Children begin their journey as artists at Mossgate from their very first day at school. Exploration of colour, painting, drawing and the natural environment in the early years underpins the creativity, knowledge and artistic skills that children go on to refine throughout their time at Mossgate. As well as having access to art resources and tools all year round in continuous provision, children in our early years classes are given meaningful opportunities to create art linked to overarching half-termly themes such as animals, celebrations and family and friends.
What Does Art Look Like for our Year 1 - 6 Artists?
"Every artist was first an amateur." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Each class teacher in years 1-6 teaches three units of art throughout the year. These units are designed with an overarching theme, element of art and artistic skill as focal points for that scheme of work. Our art curriculum is designed to introduce children to a range of artistic skills early, which are then revisited and built upon in each year group until our oldest year 6 Oak Class artists leave school as confident, inspired and creative young individuals.
Year One Maple Class artists exploring different types of lines.
Year Two Willow Class artist creating texture by adding different lines to watercolour shells.
Year Four Rowan Class artists looking closely at colour mixing in response to the artist Paul Cezanne.
Year Five Beech Class artists having fun and working collaboratively splatting paint on a large scale.
Year Six Oak Class artist using charcoal to demonstrate tone and form as they respond to the work of Henry Moore.
Beginning in the early years, children's artwork is recorded in sketchbooks. In years 1-6, children use their sketchbook to record ideas, experiment the elements of art with different tools, demonstrate their skills and learn to evaluate the work of great artists. Children are taught to use their sketchbooks to show their own progression of ideas and experimentation in each unit.
Working With Artists at Mossgate Primary School
At Mossgate, we are incredibly lucky to be able to work with local artist, Helen Yates. Helen runs workshops with children and provides a valuable experience for both students and staff to learn more about clay and painting.
Updated January 2026
Lauren Moses, Willow Class Teacher and Art & Design Lead