Art and Design PPA Cover for Primary Schools

Qualified art specialists delivering creative, curriculum-aligned lessons for EYFS, KS1 and KS2 — while your class teachers take their PPA time.

Art and Design on the Primary Timetable

Art and Design is a statutory foundation subject in the National Curriculum. Every maintained primary school must teach it. But it is one of the subjects most likely to be reduced when a non-specialist covers a class — sessions become colouring sheets, generic printing, or freehand drawing with no curriculum framework behind them.

The problem is rarely a lack of effort. Most classroom teachers simply don’t have the subject confidence to deliver well-structured art lessons with genuine skills progression. The result is that pupils receive inconsistent art education depending on which year group they are in and who happens to be covering.

Zoosh Education places qualified art teachers in primary schools to deliver consistent, progressive sessions that genuinely develop pupils’ skills and creative vocabulary. Every lesson is planned, recorded, and tracked through TeachTool — so your school always knows what has been delivered and what comes next.

What Our Art PPA Cover Delivers

Sessions are planned in advance and build progressively across the term. All lesson plans and assessment records are managed through TeachTool and included in the price — there is nothing for your school to prepare or source separately.

EYFS (Nursery and Reception)

• Exploratory mark-making — paint, charcoal, chalk, and mixed media
• Sensory and tactile materials — clay, collage, fabric
• Colour mixing and recognition through hands-on activity
• Creative expression linked to EYFS themes and seasons

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)

• Drawing — observational drawing, line, shape, texture
• Painting — brush technique, colour mixing, tone
• Printing — simple block and press printing
• Collage and textiles — cutting, layering, combining materials
• Introduction to artists — looking at and responding to works of art

Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)

• Extended drawing projects — still life, portraiture, landscape
• Painting skills — watercolour, acrylic, technique development
• Sculpture and 3D work — clay, mixed media, construction
• Printmaking — mono-printing, relief, more complex techniques
• Design process — sketchbooks, idea development, evaluation
• Artists, craft and design — studying and responding to a range of artists and movements

Cross-curricular links Art sessions can be aligned to current topics across your school — portraits for a history unit, landscapes for geography, printing inspired by cultural studies. Many schools find this maximises the value of each session, connecting creative work to wider learning. Tell us your current topics when you enquire.

How Zoosh Education Delivers Art PPA Cover

The multi-subject carousel Zoosh Education coordinates multiple specialist teachers across different subjects simultaneously — typically within a single morning or afternoon. This works particularly well in schools with two or more classes per year group.

In practice: an Art specialist, a Music specialist, and a PE specialist might all be on site on the same day. Each class rotates between subjects across the session. By the end of the morning, every class has had a high-quality lesson in each subject — and every class teacher has taken their PPA.

This model allows schools to fulfil multiple PPA obligations in a single session. Zoosh Education manages the scheduling — the coordination sits with us, not your school office.

Planning and Assessment Through TeachTool

All lesson plans, session records, and sketchbook notes are managed through TeachTool — Zoosh Education’s planning platform. Lesson plans are prepared ahead of every visit and available in TeachTool before your specialist arrives. After each session, delivery records and observations are logged automatically.

Your school has full visibility of what has been taught — without any planning administration falling on your staff.

Ofsted and Art Deep Dives

Art and Design is a subject Ofsted can select for a Deep Dive inspection. Inspectors look for curriculum intent, skills progression across year groups, and pupils who can talk about their own development as artists.

Where art PPA cover has been consistent and specialist-led — with TeachTool records demonstrating session-by-session progression — your school is well-placed to evidence curriculum impact. Pupils who have experienced structured, cumulative art lessons can discuss their learning and show development in their sketchbooks.

Why Schools Choose Zoosh Education for Art PPA Cover

Genuine subject specialism Our art teachers have art education backgrounds. They understand skills progression and deliver lessons that genuinely develop pupils — not just occupy them.

Everything provided through TeachTool Lesson plans, assessment records, and curriculum tracking are all included and managed through TeachTool. Zero preparation required from your school.

Progressive across the term Sessions build on each other. Each lesson connects to the last. Sketchbook work accumulates into visible development over time.

Cross-curricular on request We can align art sessions to your school’s current topic themes at no extra cost — share your curriculum map when you enquire.

DBS-checked and safeguarding training completed All enhanced DBS checks and safeguarding training completed before placement.

Consistent staffing The same art specialist, same day, every week. Pupils build confidence and a relationship with their teacher over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do your art teachers bring materials? For most sessions, standard school art materials are sufficient. We discuss materials requirements at enquiry stage and flag anything specific needed. For specialist techniques such as clay or advanced printmaking, we will advise in advance.

Can art sessions be linked to our current topic themes? Yes — and we actively encourage it. Share your topic map when you enquire and we will plan sessions to connect creative work to your wider curriculum.

Do you use sketchbooks? Where the school uses sketchbooks, we work within that approach. If your school does not currently use sketchbooks, we can discuss whether introducing them would benefit your pupils.

Does art PPA cover require us to prepare lesson plans? No. Lesson plans are provided through TeachTool and included in the price. Your school does not need to prepare or source planning materials separately.

How is art PPA cover priced? Pricing depends on session duration and frequency. Contact us for a tailored quote.