Intent
The aim at Hamstead Infant School is to provide children with an ambitious, inspiring and coherent curriculum that allows our children to develop their confidence and independence regardless of their independent needs. We provide a broad and engaging curriculum based on the EYFS Development Matters and National Curriculum allowing children to extend their knowledge and understanding of D&T, skills and their knowledge of designers. We aim to provide children with the skills to become independent and responsible designers. To do this, children will embrace challenge, use their developing skills in D&T to express their own ideas and follow their own creative journeys with confidence.
The D&T curriculum is rooted in the following areas:
1. To provide practical experiences that allow children to learn knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in designing and making.
2. Children are encouraged to design purposeful and functional and appealing products by generating and developing their ideas through talking, drawing, creating and communicating using technology.
3. Children are encouraged to make products using a range of tools/equipment and use developing practical skills and technical knowledge as part of this process.
4. Children are encouraged to be confident evaluators of their work and journey when working through projects and learning about the work of designers and when researching products.
The end goal is for our children to begin to develop the characteristics of a designer. They will gain a love of D&T and be engaged by the exploration of it. Children will take control of their learning be excited about what they are creating and improving.
Our Curriculum Drivers are used to personalise the curriculum to meet the needs of the children within the school with the aim to provide challenge for all:
Language- The children will be able to communicate and express themselves confidently within their D&T and EAD lessons. They will learn a rich and varied range of vocabulary to help them understand and use language linked to the curriculum and it’s processes. The children will be given opportunities to communicate their thoughts, opinions, feelings and ideas during lessons and will also begin to learn how to use communication to describe/evaluate their work and also, to appreciate the work of others.
Independence- The children will take part in happy, engaging and inspiring D&T/EAD lessons. When completing activities and projects, the children will learn how to build resilience and understand that we can learn from our mistakes and that perseverance is key to learning and improving their work. They will learn about skills, technical knowledge and processes which will lead to them choosing equipment and materials they will need to help them complete work. The children will become creative, resilient designers who are confident to apply their skills across all areas of the curriculum and in everyday life. Children will be encouraged to appreciate and also to take pride in their work and the work of peers and other designers.
Outdoor- The children will have the opportunity to apply their technical knowledge and understanding through outdoor learning opportunities. Outside, children are encouraged to not only explore skills, technical knowledge and processes learnt in class on a larger scale, but also to use natural materials as part of their design exploration in varied ways and also as part of forest school activities.
Implementation
Children’s skills are developed and built upon throughout their school journey to allow them to gain a deeper knowledge and confidently use skills and knowledge in D&T/EAD. Misconceptions are explored and used to challenge and enrich their journey. For early years, continuous provision provides constant opportunities both indoor and outdoor for children to explore and practise skills and the use of tools independently. Here, children can also follow their own creative and design interests.
In KS1 children have 3 main art topics with each one taught over a half term. In each topic lessons are sequenced and follow a projects in D&T where skills are taught and then used to improve products.
D&T/EAD are also seen at incidental times across the year where skills are used to create cards, calendars, isolated cooking lessons.
D&T/EAD in school is also used on occasions in a cross curricular way to support work created in other curriculum areas.
Teachers and children will use a varied range of vocabulary linked to the skills and technical knowledge of the processes within D&T/EAD.
The teaching of D&T/EAD across the school meets the needs of all individual learners and provides a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Impact
Children who leave Hamstead Infant School will have achieved their personal best in D&T, they will be more confident, independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their education in D&T.
Children are able to develop and use the skills and language learnt in D&T and apply their knowledge and skills independently.
Children will have developed skills in order to express themselves, be creative and use their skills independently and confidently.
Our ambitious and engaging curriculum provides children with a love of learning so that they ‘Know more’ and ‘Remember more’.