Registered Charity 1001065
Process art and pottery
Process Art at Little School
At Little School, we believe that art is about exploration, not perfection.
We use a process art approach, where children are given time, space, and open-ended materials to explore creatively without a set outcome. Instead of copying an adult example, children investigate colour, texture, tools, movement, and materials in ways that are meaningful to them.
This approach supports our Roots to Shoots curriculum, strengthening the foundations children need for lifelong learning — confidence, curiosity, communication, physical development, and emotional wellbeing.
Art experiences are sensory, playful, and often large-scale. Children paint with their whole bodies, experiment freely, collaborate with others, and revisit ideas over time. The focus is on thinking, doing, and discovering, rather than what the final piece looks like.
Through process art, children develop:
strong physical foundations for writing and fine motor control
confidence to make choices and express ideas
perseverance, creativity, and problem-solving skills
language and emotional expression
Every child’s creative journey is unique — and we value the learning that happens along the way.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t my child always bring home a finished picture?
At Little School, we focus on the learning that happens during the creative experience. Children often return to their artwork over time, make changes, or explore materials in ways that don’t always result in a single finished piece on that day — and that’s all part of the process.
We thoughtfully keep children’s artwork throughout the year, valuing it as a record of their ideas, exploration, and development. At the end of the year, this is shared with families as a special art portfolio, celebrating each child’s unique creative journey and the learning that has happened along the way.
Will my child still learn to draw and write?
Yes — and with stronger foundations. Before writing, children need shoulder stability, hand strength, coordination, and confidence. Process art develops these physical and cognitive skills in developmentally appropriate ways that support later writing success.
What if my child says, “I don’t know what it is”?
That’s completely okay. Young children are often exploring movement, colour, or texture rather than representation. This stage is essential and should not be rushed. Meaning comes later — and looks different for every child.
How do adults support children during art?
Practitioners observe closely, introduce vocabulary, model techniques when helpful, ask open-ended questions, and support reflection — without taking control or directing outcomes. This keeps ownership with the child while extending learning.
How does process art link to learning across the curriculum?
Art at Little School supports:
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Physical development through movement and strength
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Communication and language through discussion and reflection
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Emotional development through expression and regulation
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Early maths and science through pattern, shape, change, and material investigation
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Creativity and problem-solving across all areas of learning
It is a core part of our STEAM curriculum, not an add-on.
What should I say to my child about their artwork?
We encourage comments that focus on process rather than product, such as:
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“Tell me about what you were exploring.”
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“What did you notice when you mixed those colours?”
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“What part did you enjoy most?”
This helps children reflect, build language, and feel proud of their thinking.
Clay and Pottery Wheel at Little School
At Little School, we believe clay is about exploration, not perfection.
Children take part in regular clay and pottery wheel sessions each week. These experiences are process-led and open-ended. Rather than copying an adult example, children investigate movement, pressure, texture, balance, and change in ways that are meaningful to them.
Clay is sensory, physical, and deeply absorbing. Children squeeze, roll, press, squash, poke, pinch, coil, and spin. They notice resistance. They test strength. They explore what happens when they push harder, soften their touch, or slow things down.
The pottery wheel adds a new dimension of movement and transformation. Clay spins beneath steady hands. Children learn to centre, to apply even pressure, to adjust when something wobbles. They feel the rhythm of the wheel and experience the quiet focus that comes with sustained attention.
Our focus is on thinking, doing, adjusting, and discovering.
Sometimes clay is reshaped, reworked, or recycled as part of learning. When children create something they are particularly proud of and would like to keep, we carefully dry and seal selected pieces so they are protected and can be taken home.
We value the learning that happens in the making, not just the finished object.
How Clay Strengthens Our Roots to Shoots Curriculum
Clay work strengthens the roots that underpin lifelong learning.
It directly supports:
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Moving Muscles (and Pivots) — developing shoulder stability, wrist strength, hand strength, and bilateral coordination for early writing readiness
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Symbolism — representing ideas and experiences in three-dimensional form
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Excellent Engineering — exploring joining, balance, structure, and stability
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Satisfying Science — investigating wet and dry change, force, rotation, and cause and effect
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Managing Feelings and Perseverance — developing regulation, patience, and resilience
Clay sits within our STEAM curriculum, where art, science, engineering, mathematics, and physical development naturally connect .
Through clay, children build confidence in their bodies, curiosity in materials, and pride in effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pottery wheel safe for preschool children?
Yes. The wheel is used in very small groups with close adult supervision. Clear boundaries are modelled and revisited each session. Children learn how to position their hands safely, manage speed, and use tools responsibly — developing judgement through guided experience .
What happens if the pot collapses?
That is part of the learning. Clay teaches perseverance beautifully. Children are supported to notice what happened, adjust pressure, and try again. We focus on effort, reflection, and problem-solving rather than outcome .
How does clay support writing readiness?
Before writing, children need strong shoulders, stable wrists, and powerful fingers. Clay provides natural resistance, strengthening these foundations in a developmentally appropriate way long before formal writing is expected.
How do adults support children during sessions?
Practitioners observe closely, introduce rich vocabulary such as pressure, centre, smooth, spin, join, model techniques when helpful, and engage in sustained shared conversations — without taking control. Ownership remains with the child.
Clay at Little School is slow learning.
It requires steady hands.
It strengthens growing muscles.
It asks children to notice, adjust, and persist.
It offers space for focus and calm.
Just like process art, every clay journey is unique — and we value the learning that happens along the way.