Intent

 

• At Eling Infant School and Nursery, our design and technology curriculum is constructed to inspire children to think innovatively and inquisitively. We provide varied learning opportunities which aim to develop not only children’s technical skill in design and technology; but also to develop their wider knowledge of product design and their ability to apply vocabulary accurately.

 

• We encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. 

 

• At Eling Infant School we encourage children to learn to think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team which can improve analysis, problem solving, and practical capability and evaluation skills.  

 

• Our DT Curriculum aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to become successful, innovative young designers and makers. By building on prior experience, students progressively develop technical skills and practical expertise. They are encouraged to think creatively, imaginatively and be ambitious in their design ideas.

 

• They learn to recognise the importance of design and technology in the real world and its relevance in everyday life. They are given opportunities to learn about and be inspired by designs and other designers. Through the design, make, evaluate process, students are guided to develop skills of team work, communication, resilience and reflectiveness through problem solving.

 

• They learn to use knowledge and understanding from other curriculum areas including mathematical, scientific, computing and art skills, applying them in relevant and practical contexts. In this way, we aspire for our students to become articulate, dynamic thinkers able to approaching new challenges with confidence and enthusiasm.

 

Implementation

• All children will be explicitly taught DT knowledge and skills as well as frequently re-visiting and applying their skills through their cross-curricular topics.  For example, we will make links between Design and Technology and Science when learning about nutrition and healthy diets.  We will make links with mathematical ideas of shape and space, for example when thinking about 3D shapes to support structures. Children will play DT purple mash games in ICT and use tools and construction materials in art and project time.
• Assessment will be carried out by teachers and fed back to the subject leader.  Assessment will be summarised at the end of each half term to monitor progression and depth of learning.
• The subject leader will conduct regular work monitoring and pupil conferencing.
• Pupils will be clear what the intended outcomes are and have a means to measure and reflect on their own work against this.  Children are encouraged to take risks and experiment and then reflect on why some techniques and ideas are successful or not for a particular project.
• In DT, we teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. The teaching of DT follows the design, make and evaluate cycle with each stage rooted in technical knowledge. The design process is rooted in real life, relevant contexts to give meaning to learning. While making, we try to encourage the children to make choices and have a range of tools and materials for them to choose from.  Children then evaluate their own products against a design criteria. The key skills we teach children include, sewing and textiles, cooking and nutrition, mechanical components and using materials, thinking about creating stronger, stiffer structures.

 

Impact 

• Our Design and Technology Curriculum will be high quality, well thought out and planned to demonstrate progression. We will measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:  a reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes, pupil evaluation and pupil conferencing. 
• Through the  implementation of the DT curriculum at Eling, children will:

• understand and apply subject specific vocabulary

• achieve age related expectations at the end of each academic year

• retain and build on knowledge, understanding and skills in DT

• participate in wider DT-based activities, applying the skills taught across different curriculum areas.

 • develop a love for DT and an appreciation of the design process.

 

 

The Curriculum

Early Years - Design and Technology

In Early Years, children would encounter Design Technology through ‘Expressive Art and Design’. Here children would have had plenty of opportunities to explore different materials and mediums through their continuous provision activities.

• Joining and assembling: They will use glue and tape to join and assemble materials with a purpose in mind when joining materials. Children can fold paper and card to create the desired effect e.g. paper plane.
• Construction: Children create complex structures becoming more imaginative in their block play and begin to create elaborate and complex designs, using their understanding of pattern, shape and balance. Children will start to use blocks to represent things that they know, that in turn enhance their play, for example a car or an animal, house or train station.
• Daily snack time provides a perfect opportunity to consider healthy food choices and further opportunities to learn about food and nutrition are offered throughout the year.
•  Continuous provision provides plenty of opportunities to practise and explore joining, making, using tools and creating using different materials and evaluation is always encouraged. These foundations are built upon as children journey through Year 1 and KS1.

 

 

The Design and Technology National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 - Pupils should be taught about:

Design: • Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria.

• Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology.

Make: • Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks e.g. cutting, shaping, joining and finishing.

• Select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics.

Evaluate: • Explore and evaluate a range of existing products. • Evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria.

Technical knowledge: •Build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable. •Explore and use mechanisms e.g. levers, sliders, wheels and axles, in their products.

Cooking and Nutrition: • Use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes.

• Understand where food comes from.

 

Reviewed by Subject Leader – September 2024