Bincombe Valley Primary School

Expressive arts and design knowledge and skills progression

‘In the Foundation Stage at Bincombe Valley Primary we aim to provide a play-based learning environment where children are happy and engaged. We believe firm foundations lead to future success.’ 

Expressive Arts and Design – Creating with Materials 

Laying the foundation knowledge and skills to be built upon by the National Curriculum. ART and DT and Music 

By end of Nursery 

Reception Autumn Term 

Reception Spring Term 

Reception Summer Term 

• Explores and learn about sounds and movements  

 • Explore moving in a range of ways, e.g. mirroring, creating own movement patterns 

 • Enjoys joining in with moving, dancing and ring games 

 • Sings familiar songs 

• Develops an understanding of how to create and use sounds intentionally  

• Explore colour and how colours can be changed  

• Develops an understanding of using lines to enclose a space, and use drawing to represent actions and objects based on imagination, observation and experience  

• Uses various construction materials, e.g. joining pieces, stacking vertically and horizontally, balancing, making enclosures and creating spaces 

  • To explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques and begin to make decisions based on previous experiences of these. 
  • Explore colour mixing using paint, beginning to remember how to make favourite colours.  
  • To explore and play simple instruments and begin to share and perform 
  • To make and create with purpose  
  • To develop storylines in their pretend play, either alone or with peers.  
  • Return to and build on their previous learning, refining ideas and developing their ability to represent them 
  • To share and perform songs or instrument playing with others. 

 

  • To make informed decisions on the tools and materials they use for specific purposes.  
  • To share their creations, explaining the process they have used. 
  • To look at their creations and think of ways that they can adapt to improve.  
  • Use props, either provided or self-made, to enhance role-play/small world play. 

Early Learning Goal 

Safely use and explore a variety of material, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Share their creations, explaining the process they have used. Make use of props and materials when role playing characters in narrative and stories. 

 

Expressive Arts and Design – Being Imaginative and Expressive 

Laying the foundation knowledge and skills to be built upon by the National Curriculum. ENGLISH, ART, MUSIC 

By end of Nursery 

Reception Autumn Term 

Reception Spring Term 

Reception Summer Term 

• Engages in imaginative play based on own ideas or first-hand or peer experiences. 

 • Uses available resources to create props or creates imaginary ones to support play  

• Uses movement and sounds to express experiences, expertise, ideas and feelings  

• Experiments and creates movement in response to music, stories and ideas  

• Sings to self and makes up simple songs  

• Creates sounds, movements, drawings to accompany stories 

  • To listen attentively, move to and talk about music, expressing their feelings and responses.  
  • To listen and respond to different styles of music. 
  • To listen to, learn to sing or sing along with different nursery rhymes and action songs 
  • To use small world/role-play areas of the classroom to act out narratives from their own experiences 

 

 

  • Sing in a group or on their own, beginning to include pitch and timing. 
  • Explore and engage in music making and dance, performing solo or in groups. 
  • To act out narratives either based on experiences or from their imagination. 

 

  • To create stories/narratives in the role play area using their imagination, adapting when needed.  
  • Sing a range of known nursery rhymes and songs and perform songs, poems and stories with others with others (Poetry Basket, Helicopter stories) 
  • To listen to music and think about how to move in time. 

Early Learning Goal 

Invent, adapt and recount narratives and stories with peers and their teacher. Sing a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs. Perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others and (when appropriate) try to move in time with music.