Intent

At PIA, we recognise the importance of Design and Technology and the role it has to play in preparing children for the developing world and encouraging them to become curious and creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team.

We believe that evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their products. This is a key skill which they need throughout their life. Design and Technology also allows children to apply the knowledge and skills learned in other subjects, particularly Maths, Science and Art.

At PIA, children’s engagement is captured through “themed” approaches to learning, ensuring that cross curricular links can be made, giving children motivation and meaning for their learning.

Children throughout the school are taught about cooking and nutrition in the curriculum, which enables them to make informed healthy eating choices. We believe teaching children to cook is an important part of promoting a whole school approach to health and wellbeing.

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in design and technology, we use themes from the Cornerstones Curriculum which allows clear progression through the school.

Implement

We have designed our Design and Technology curriculum with the intent that children design purposeful, functional and appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria and using their learned skills: generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates and mock-ups.

All children in the EYFS are taught D&T as an integral part of the topic work covered during the academic year. All D&T objectives within the EYFS are underpinned by the three prime areas outlined in the ‘Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage’:

● Communication and language,

● Physical development,

● Personal, social and emotional development.

The D&T curriculum in the EYFS has a particular focus on the specific areas of design and understanding the world. In EYFS, our children will be taught to:

● Recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as at home and in schools.

● Select and use technology for particular purposes.

● Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

● Represent their own ideas through D&T.

Through KS1, children will be given the opportunity to develop their abilities:

● To design purposeful, functional and appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria,

● To generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates and mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology,

● To select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks, e.g. cutting, shaping, joining and finishing,

● To select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics,

● To explore and evaluate a range of existing products. To evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria,

● To build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable,

● To explore and use mechanisms, e.g. levers, sliders, wheels and axles, in their products.

As part of their work with food, pupils should be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in children will also open a door to one of the greatest expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. By the end of KS1, children will have experienced learning opportunities to:

● Use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes,

● Understand where food comes from.

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, children will be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to progress to KS2

Impact

The children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in design and technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum. D&T encompasses many cross-curricular links and children are able to apply what they learn in other areas of the curriculum and in opportunities out of school and within their lives. We measure the impact of our curriculum through reflecting on standards achieved against the planned outcomes, pupil discussions about their learning and through collaboration of teachers and the subject leader.

Our curriculum documents can be viewed below.

For further information, please contact Design and Technology Lead, Mrs S. Girn, on 01753 521888 or post@phoenixinfants.uk.