Design and Technology

Intent

At Banstead Infant School our vision for Design Technology (DT) is to ensure that all children have the opportunity, through ‘hands on experience’ to be creative and design in a varied way, with meaning. Through DT, we encourage children to value not just an end product but the whole process. This empowers them to make informed choices and take risks as they develop their ideas and become independent, creative problem solvers and thinkers both as individuals and as part of a team. Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to design, create and reflect on their DT work. We celebrate children’s successes and encourage them to evaluate their designs, material choices and final product and identify possible development points. Design Technology is a way for children to use their imagination and creativity, testing their own ideas to gain self-confidence.

The National Curriculum for DT aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world

build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users

critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others

understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook

Implementation:

At Banstead Infant School DT is a vital component in our school that brings learning to life through creativity and design. DT is not only classroom based, we love opportunities to take learn outside too! We value children making decisions and learning through practical experiences and creating things they can touch, see and taste! Teachers plan collaboratively using the DT progression grid when creating their medium term plan. DT is taught half termly, however some topics lend themselves more to different subject areas.

In Key stage One DT is there is a clear task set out. DT work is evidenced on paper plans showing children’s progress. In Early Years, DT is developed through continuous provision. DT is accessible in both our creative and construction areas within the practical area, where the children thrive by using the resources independently. We encourage the children to participate in the activities and encourage determination to try a new challenge, however we also support and encourage the children to think individually and have their own idea’s focussing on the process not the end product.  Teachers support the children with questioning, recall and key vocabulary in their DT. Through these lessons, we intend to inspire pupils and practitioners to develop a love of design and technology and see how it has helped shaped the ever-evolving technological world they live in.

Impact

At Banstead Infant School, we believe that our Design and Technology curriculum will give our children a strong foundation of key skills and knowledge in DT. This will enable them to develop the confidence and creativity to become the designers of products in our technological world. Through our broad and balanced curriculum, our children are given the opportunities to explore, discover and develop their skills through practical, hands-on experience, where they evaluate and improve models, products and designs.

Our children are the future and we believe that our carefully planned curriculum will help to inspire the future designers and innovators.