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, showing how it aligns with the National curriculum.

Designed for primary teachers seeking an engaging Art and design scheme of work, this progression of skills and knowledge document supports the delivery of 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 follows a structured spiral curriculum. This document serves as a valuable tool for primary art planning, demonstrating how skills and knowledge builds year on year. 

The document supports subject leaders and teachers in planning the Art and design curriculum by outlining the progression of skills throughout KS1 and KS2 and indicating 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 the standard Art and design scheme, see Art and design: Long-term plan.
• If you follow the Art and design: Long-term plan – condensed scheme, see the corresponding Art and design: 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.
• Discover 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.