DT Curriculum Statement

At Pennington Infants we intend to build a Design Technology curriculum which is inspiring, rigorous, and practical. We want our children to use creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and other’s needs, wants and values. We intend for all children to acquire appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. It is our aim to create strong cross curricular links with other subjects, such as Maths, Science, Computing and Art. We want Design and Technology to prepare our children, to give them the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences they need to be successful in later life.

Implementation

Design and Technology is a crucial part of school life and learning and it is for this reason that as a school we are dedicated to the teaching and delivery of a high-quality Design and Technology curriculum.
This is implemented through:

• A well thought out, whole school, yearly overview of the DT curriculum which allows for progression across year groups in all areas of DT (textiles, mechanisms, structures and food.)
• Well planned and resourced projects providing children with a hands-on and enriching experiences.
• A range of skills being taught ensuring that children are aware of health and safety issues related to the tasks undertaken.
• Teachers being given ownership and flexibility to plan for Design and Technology; often teaching DT as a block of lessons to allow the time needed for the children to be critical, inventive and reflective on their work.
• Each project addresses the principles of designing, making and evaluating and incorporating relevant technical knowledge and understanding in relevant contexts.
• Pupils are introduced to specific designers, chefs etc helping to give an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and increase the cultural capital from which they can draw in the future.
• As a school we promote our school garden to encourage children to grow and harvest to know where some foods come from.

Early Years Foundation Stage

During the EYFS pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have the opportunities to learn to:

• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas.
• Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about form, function and purpose.
• Make plans and construct with a purpose in mind using a variety of resources.
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques appropriately, effectively and safely.
• Select appropriate resources for a product and adapt their work where necessary.
• Cook and prepare food adhering to good health and hygiene routines.

Impact

Children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in Design and Technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum. Through carefully planned and implemented learning activities the pupils develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. They gain a firm foundation of knowledge and skills to see them equipped to take on further learning in Junior School. Pupil’s skills and knowledge are assessed ongoingly by the class teacher by observing their work especially over time as they gain skills and knowledge; observing how they perform in lessons and talking to them about what they know.

The Design and Technology curriculum will contribute to children’s personal development in resilience, creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. This would be seen in them being able to talk confidently about their work and sharing their work with others. Progress will be shown through outcomes and through the important record of the process leading to them. This informs the Design and Technology coordinator of any further areas for curriculum development, pupil support and/or training requirements for staff.

EYFS pupils' progress and attainment tells us whether each individual child has met the Early Learning Goals linked with DT.