A roadmap for primary art and design skills

This printable PDF document outlines the progression of art skills and knowledge in EYFS, KS1 and KS2 and how it aligns with the National curriculum. For primary teachers looking for an engaging Art and design scheme of work, our progression of skills and knowledge helps deliver a comprehensive Art and design curriculum. 

How can I use this document to plan my art curriculum with Kapow?

The Kapow Primary Art and design scheme of work follows a structured spiral curriculum. This document is a valuable tool for primary art planning, enabling you to see how skills and knowledge build upon each other from year to year. 

The document supports subject leaders and teachers when planning the art curriculum by outlining the progression of skills throughout KS1 and KS2 and showing which lessons support that progression. Use it during your planning process to ensure each year group builds on the previous one, with clear guidance on which lessons to focus on at each stage.

How does Art and design knowledge develop at Kapow Primary?

This document outlines the development of Art and design knowledge across all year groups, ensuring a clear pathway for pupil learning. Progression is broken down into the following key areas:

• Generating ideas – encouraging autonomy; developing creativity; generating original ideas through experimentation.
• Making skills – becoming familiar with the formal elements of art; developing practical knowledge of a variety of media and materials; exploring and testing out different creative methods, tools and techniques.
• Evaluating and analysing – discussing art using appropriate language to analyse a creative work; considering how art is studied, discussed and judged; examining what art is and why people make it.
• Knowledge of artists – exploring traditional and contemporary artists, craft-makers and designers from diverse communities; studying the materials, processes and meanings of these artists.
• Using sketchbooks – documenting and trying out different ideas and media; evaluating and evolving the children’s artwork.

What other Kapow Primary resources support primary art teaching?

• For our revised, standard Art and design scheme, see Art and design: Long-term plan.
• If you follow our Long-term plan – condensed, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – condensed.
• If you subscribe to both subjects and follow our alternating Art and D&T long-term plan, see the corresponding Art and D&T: Progression of skills and knowledge.
• If you follow our Long-term plan – mixed-age, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – mixed-age version.
• See how children begin their Kapow creative journey with our EYFS (Reception) Art and design units. 
• Browse our Key stage 1, Lower Key stage 2, Upper Key stage 2 and Mixed-age units to learn how children develop their skills in Kapow’s Art and design scheme.