Design Technology
Design and Technology (DT) helps to prepare children for the developing world, encouraging them to be creative thinkers, designers and problem solvers.
Here at Combs Infant School we aim to teach DT in a fun, practical and safe way. Activities are planned so that they meet National Curriculum requirements, build upon prior learning and lead to a progression in skills that increasingly challenge the children as they move through school.
Each project and DT activity is given a theme and purpose where appropriate linked to other curriculum subjects. Children will undertake projects involving cooking and nutrition, textiles, mechanisms, use of materials and construction.
In the Foundation Stage, early experiences encourage the children to ask questions about how things work and the materials used. In both the indoor and outdoor learning classrooms they develop their designing and making skills and learn how to handle tools safely.
Throughout Key Stage 1, children’s skills are developed further to engage them fully in the process of research, planning, design, manufacture and evaluation. Children will design and make a play pen, vehicles (London taxi), a beach hut, making a bag tag and a moving greeting card. In cooking they will make sandwiches, fruit salad and choose and make a new school meal that fulfils specific design criteria developing an understanding of where food comes from, its production and nutrition.
Intent
We have developed an active approach to learning and teaching which enables us to respond to the needs of our children as they move from Nursery to Reception and then on to Year 1 and 2.
As teachers, we communicate enthusiasm and passion about DT and challenge children’s thinking. We enhance and develop children’s knowledge and understanding of an increasing range of mechanisms, structures and materials, including food and textiles. Children will be taught to evaluate, design and make a variety of products that are fit for purpose and the user. This will help to prepare our children to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies and industries, of which have a huge impact on our locality. We will build on children’s natural curiosity and ability to explore and understand the world around them.
This will be achieved through the teaching of well-planned opportunities where children use, apply and develop their knowledge and skills across the EYFS and National Curriculum.
Through our DT curriculum we:
· Build on the child’s natural curiosity, inventiveness and wonder to help them make sense of the world around them.
· Teach the skills needed to answer questions and solve problems using investigative methods and other practical techniques.
· Guide children through the process of investigating, designing, making and evaluating.
Implementation
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in DT, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. DT is taught through linked projects, focusing on the knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum and the EYFS Framework.
EYFS
During the Early Years Foundation Stage, the essential building blocks of children’s design and technology capability are established. During the Nursery and Reception years at Combs Infant School DT is taught as an integral part of topic work. In the Early Years Foundation Stage DT knowledge and skills are taught through the Expressive Arts and Design area of learning: 'Being Imaginative and Expressive' and 'Creating with Materials', but there are many other opportunities for carrying out DT related activities in all areas of learning in the EYFS. Within continuous provision the children will learn through first-hand experiences with access to a wide range of both large and small scale resources such as; construction kits, existing products and a variety of materials and natural resources. They are given frequent opportunities to explore, observe, solve problems, think critically and time to talk about what they have made and why they have made their decisions. Taking place in both our indoor and outdoor learning classrooms, these activities will attract the children’s interest and curiosity. There is an emphasis on independence and self-initiated learning, which enables foundation stage children to freely explore resources and pursue their own creative interests and talents in addition to the planned learning experiences. To support this further all children within the EYFS stage will receive regular opportunities to access associated DT learning within current Forest School provision. In the Early years teaching will inspire children to make healthy food choices as they are encouraged to select and even grow their own snacks. Children are taught about personal and food hygiene promoting healthy choices from the very beginning of each child’s learning journey.
Key Stage One
Throughout KS1 DT teaching fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum programmes of study, with delivery of its 2 key strands; designing and making and cooking and nutrition. All children will engage in at least three DT units during each academic year, one of which will be related to food and nutrition. These will involve the children following all elements of the DT process; exploring, researching, designing, making and evaluating, whilst gaining the appropriate vocabulary, technical knowledge and skills. Teachers will have identified the key knowledge and skills to be taught through each project and consideration has been given to ensure progression within a year group and across the school, as well as making links to other subjects. At the beginning of each project, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This informs the starting point for learning in each project and ensures lessons build on children’s prior knowledge. Teachers will also use their knowledge of our curriculum, making links to prior learning clear for children to build upon. DT will be taught to a high standard, where each of the stages is given equal weight. There should be evidence of each of these stages in the DT floor books.
Impact
Our Design Technology curriculum ensures that children develop into enthusiastic, motivated and independent learners with a real love of learning. A range of exciting and motivating learning opportunities enables the children to become confident learners who are able to use the practical skills they have been taught to solve problems to design and make a range of products for different purposes. The children understand the importance of investigating and disassembling and how this informs their designs and how they choose to make their final outcomes. The children confidently apply their learning from other curriculum areas and they are able to evaluate the success of their products using design criteria.
Through these high quality learning opportunities, children develop an appreciation of the contribution Design Technology makes to all aspects of everyday life and the world around them. Our Design Technology curriculum encourages children to utilise these skills in a range of exciting contexts and prepares them for lifelong learning. Our curriculum ensures that children are given opportunities to design and make in a range of contexts and therefore they are able to apply these skills as they grow and choose careers later in life.
EYFS End Points
In Early Years, the children develop essential basic skills in DT which prepares them for transition to KS1. Our EYFS curriculum provides many opportunities for the children to carry out DT related activities across all areas of learning.
By the end of Early Years, it is expected that children will be able to:
• construct with a purpose in mind
• use simple tools and techniques competently and safely
• build and construct with a wide range of objects, choosing appropriate resources and making adaptations when necessary
• assemble and join a wide range of different materials together, selecting appropriate tools and techniques
Key Stage One End Points
By the end of Key Stage One children, will have an understanding of and be able to:
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 [for example, 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
• 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 [for example, 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
Teaching and Learning
In EYFS, children will explore and develop the skills throughout each learning theme and continuous provision;
· use of tools
· structures
· moving parts
· food
In KS1, children develop the specific skills and technical knowledge throughout 4 aspects of DT;
· mechanisms
· textiles
· structures
· Food technology
In every classroom, you will see children:
· creating and experimenting to design new products
· being problem solvers, designing to solve problems in the real world
· using their expertise to evaluate and modify designs
· learning and applying practical and technical skills
DT within EYFS is covered within the specific strands of learning: ‘Creating with Materials’ and ‘Being Imaginative and Expressive’ and 'fine motor skills'.
In Key Stage One, teachers ensure that the skills children have acquired in EYFS are built upon and utilised to enable children to gain further skills and new knowledge.
Children will be taught to:
· design and make purposeful and appealing products, following design criteria
· select and use a range of tools and materials to cut, join, shape and finish products
· explore and evaluate existing products
· develop technical knowledge to include; structures, mechanism, food technology and textiles.
Our DT curriculum prepares our children to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think creatively and become autonomous and creative problem solvers, both independently and within group situations.
Health and Safety
When using tools including scissors and staplers the children work in small groups with an adult to ensure their safety.
The children are taught how to use these tools safely and the to move around the classroom carefully.
Risk assessments are also carried out to ensure the safety of all children.
This includes but is not limited to:
· Each time the children are given opportunities to cook.
· When glue guns are used.
· When DT tools are used.
Educational visits
Throughout the year, the children partake in educational visits with a focus and cross curricular links to the DT curriculum. These visits take place in areas of our locality and enable the children to make first hand observations of the world around them. Children will be able to develop their understanding in a way that is impossible in the classroom.
Role of Subject Leader
The role of the subject leader
• Ensure high quality DT lessons are taught across EYFS and Key Stage 1 through our agreed broad and rich curriculum.
• Provide subject specific guidance/CPD to colleagues.
• Monitor the DT curriculum delivered to children across the school, highlighting strengths and areas for further development.
• Monitor the progress and attainment of children in school in DT.
• Manage resources to support delivery of a high quality DT curriculum.
• Stay up to date with changes, new initiatives and research that would enhance and support the development of Design and Technology at Combs Infant School.
Reasonable Adjustments
In all classes there are children of differing abilities. At Combs Infant School we recognise this fact and provide suitable learning opportunities for all children. Teachers make reasonable adjustments through adaptive teaching, including; flexible grouping, level of support, equipment available (including technology), questioning and scaffolding. The SENCO and class teacher work closely together to ensure reasonable adjustments are made for all children.
Equality Statement
The DT curriculum adheres to our school Equality Policy. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that all children are treated equally, regardless of their background, gender, race or ability. We are an inclusive school and teach art to all children respecting individual needs. The art curriculum takes into account issues of difference including: gender, race and ethnicity.
SMSC in DT lessons
Opportunities to promote children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is threaded throughout our DT curriculum.
Spiritual development in Design and Technology
Spiritual development is important in design & technology as children develop a sense of awe and wonder when considering the scope and possibility of human achievement. The process of creative thinking and innovation inspires students to bring out undiscovered talents, which in turn increases self-confidence and a belief in their own abilities. The element of challenge encourages us to become problem solvers who think creatively and develop our skills of resilience, perseverance and focus.
Moral development in Design and Technology
In design & technology we encourage the children to think carefully about the resources and materials they are using when designing and making. We consider our role as responsible citizens and the environmental implications of our choices.
Social development in Design and Technology
Social development is a key feature of all design & technology lessons. We teach the concept of self-regulation to ensure that students accept responsibility for their behaviour and the safety of others. This establishes and maintains a safe and secure, learning environment. We place an emphasis on developing their ability to work with others, share resources and respect opinions when sharing ideas and giving feedback.
Cultural development in Design and Technology
We develop wider cultural awareness in design technology through projects that consider our heritage and how industrial developments and certain designers have helped shape our nation. We seek to expand student’s knowledge of other cultures and how they have influenced the design and manufacture of products we use and consume.
How can you help with your child’s learning at home
Design Technology within EYFS is covered within the specific area of learning: Expressive Arts and Design: 'Creating with Materials' and 'Being Imaginative and Expressive', with an understanding that each area of learning is impacted by children achieving the statements related in each of the prime areas of learning within the Development Matters Framework.
As our children progress to KS1, teachers ensure that the skills children have acquired in EYFS are built upon and utilised to enable children to further their skills and new knowledge by following the National Curriculum.
Expressive Arts and Design and Design Technology are taught through projects following our Cornerstones Curriculum. These projects are sequenced to develop children's substantive and declarative knowledge, and if possible, make meaningful links to other projects. These links allow for children to embed their substantive knowledge and vocabulary in new and often real-life contexts, to comprehend subsequent projects fully.