At St Nicholas, art is a joyful and expressive part of school life. Children are encouraged to explore ideas, experiment with materials and take pride in their creativity. Our curriculum helps them build key skills in line with the EYFS Educational Programme and the National Curriculum for Art, while nurturing imagination, curiosity and emotional awareness.

Children work with a wide range of techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, printing and weaving. They explore their own ideas and experiences, look closely at the work of others, and begin to reflect on different creative approaches. Lessons also introduce them to the lives and work of well-known artists and designers, helping them understand how art reflects and shapes the world around us.

We use the Kapow Primary Art and Design scheme, which encourages children to think like artists, to take creative risks, express ideas and make independent choices. Pupils are guided to communicate meaning through visual and tactile media, with outcomes celebrated for their individuality. While children may explore the same materials or themes, their work is always personal and unique.

Each year group explores different themes to keep learning fresh and engaging, while building on what’s come before. The scheme includes opportunities to use sketchbooks, generate ideas and connect art to other subjects and local context. Art is also used across the school to mark special days and celebrations — such as World Mental Health Day — giving children meaningful ways to express themselves and respond to the world around them.

Art at St Nicholas is more than a subject. It’s a space for children to explore who they are, how they feel and how they see the world. Through creative exploration, they grow in confidence, develop visual literacy and discover the joy of making and responding to art.