Art Express is published by Blacks. It is a complete programme of study + manual + resources for teaching art and design in Key Stages 1 and 2. It can be used directly as a programme of study using the termly units of work. I was on the editorial board so I should declare an interest at this stage.
Everything teachers need, including session by session guidance, plans and notes are provided.However, perhaps more importantly it models good practice and can be used as a starting point or reference for schools developing their own programme. Each unit illustrates that basic practice of exploration, establishing skills and researching ideas as a prelude to providing children with the opportunity to apply what they have learned independently.
The programme provides units and guidance for each of years one to seven in painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, collage and textiles, IT. It also provides good models of assessment which draw upon the key strands of the subject which have been established for many years and will not change.
In addition the publication provides software which will enable teachers to create and use a virtual art gallery. This will allow children to place their own work in the gallery, create a catalogue and then ‘virtually’ walk round the gallery. But it is more than this. It allows children to create virtual learning environments themselves. There is an example below.