Expressive Arts and Design

At Wrockwardine Wood Infant School and Oakengates Nursery Federation , Expressive Arts and Design plays an important role in supporting children to Achieve, Belong and Thrive. We recognise that creativity enables young children to think deeply, communicate confidently and make sense of the world around them.

Following the EYFS Statutory Framework, alongside Development Matters and Birth to 5 Matters, we provide rich, carefully sequenced opportunities for children from birth to four to explore, create, perform and respond.

Exploring and creating with Media and Materials 

Our approach to exploring and creating with materials is inspired by the work of Ann Pelo and 'The Language of Art.' This placing emphasis on open-ended exploration, sustained engagement and thoughtful adult interaction. We believe children need time, space and high-quality materials to revisit, refine and deepen their ideas.

Children are given regular opportunities to explore:

• Paint, colour mixing and tone

• Mark making, drawing and representational art with a range of media

• Clay, sculpture and 3D materials

• Junk modelling and loose parts construction

• Large-scale collaborative artwork

We explicitly teach children how to use tools and materials with increasing control and independence. They learn to talk about what they have created, explain their choices and express their ideas and feelings through marks, colour, texture and form.

As they move through Nursery, children progress from sensory exploration and early mark making to creating detailed drawings, purposeful models and collaborative pieces.

Music, Movement and and Performance

Music and movement are part of everyday life in our Nursery and Early Years provision. From babies through to preschool, children experience a wide range of songs, nursery rhymes, finger rhymes and counting songs that support language development, memory and coordination.

Children are encouraged to:

• Join in with familiar nursery rhymes and finger rhymes

• Explore rhythm and beat through clapping, tapping and whole-body movement

• Use a wide range of percussion instruments to create sounds and simple patterns

• Experiment with loud/quiet and fast/slow music

• Respond physically and emotionally to what they hear

• Begin to make up their own songs and sound effects

We provide regular opportunities for children to explore music from different cultures and traditions, helping to build cultural awareness and curiosity about the wider world. Children also benefit from visiting performers and workshops, including experiences such as Bhangra dancing, Ballet and Chinese dance, which broadens their understanding of movement, music and celebration.

Through singing, listening, playing instruments and moving to music, children develop confidence, communication skills and a growing enjoyment of music and performance from a very early age.