Cavell Primary and Nursery School Policy for Design and Technology

“Design and Technology prepares pupils to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to

improve quality of life. The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, as individuals and as members of a team. They

must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and systems. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and

environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and

technology, its uses and effects. Through design and technology, all pupils can become discriminating and informed users of products, and become

innovators.” The National Curriculum

Aims

• To ensure that all children have access to an exciting, broad and balanced design and technology curriculum

• To ensure that all children have the opportunity to develop practical, imaginative and thinking skills, enabling them to offer possible solutions to practical problems

• To ensure that all children have a developing understanding of the fundamental concepts of planning, making and evaluating

• To develop the children’s abilities to engage with and critically appreciate a range of designed outcomes made by themselves, their peers and adult designers

• To develop an understanding of the role of technology in creating the world in which we live and the need to control technological development by making value judgements about it’s impact on people and the world

• To develop children’s ability to select appropriate materials, tools and components and use these safely

Written by:Written by:Written by:Written by: Simon WakemanSimon WakemanSimon WakemanSimon Wakeman

Date Written:Date Written:Date Written:Date Written: July 2010July 2010July 2010July 2010

Review Date:Review Date:Review Date:Review Date: July 2011July 2011July 2011July 2011

Date Adopted by Governing BodyDate Adopted by Governing BodyDate Adopted by Governing BodyDate Adopted by Governing Body

SignedSignedSignedSigned pending review/adjustment for IPC

Year 2010/11

• To provide opportunities for children to apply skills, knowledge and understanding from other areas of the curriculum

• To ensure that all children have opportunities to work with food Objectives

At Cavell, we believe that every child within our school should have full access to Design and Technology as laid down in the National Curriculum, regardless of age, sex or ability. Our objectives in teaching Design and Technology are that all children should be able to:

• Show interest and motivation in designing and making

• Show a growing knowledge of a variety of materials, tools and components

• Show an awareness of the need to exercise safe and hygienic practices and to employ these whilst working

• Creatively apply their knowledge and skills when designing and making

• Communicate their ideas orally, in writing, drawing and in 3D models

• Plan work individually and as a member of a team

• Evaluate and make appropriate modifications

• Evaluate the work of others, including those from other times and cultures

• Show a developing awareness of the ways in which a design and technology activity might have an effect upon people and the environment

• Investigate the work of designers through first hand experiences Learning and Teaching Within the Foundation Stage, there are constant opportunities for experimentation with designing and making as well as focused design and technology experiences planned within topics. Design and Technology is a component of Knowledge and Understanding of the World which helps young children to explore, create and make sense of their world, using a variety of construction kits, tools, materials and products safely and with increasing control and confidence. Their ability to do so is assessed within the Foundation Stage Profile. Within Key Stages 1 and 2 Design and Technology is planned within the Cavell long term planning of topics. These have been mapped out taking into account the National Curriculum programmes of study and with some reference to QCA units of study. Children’s work is assessed against learning objectives as they are observed working within lessons and through

evaluation of processes as well as the end product. Assessment is formative and used to inform future planning. Children will need to explore familiar situations, artefacts and systems in order to develop an awareness of Design and Technology. They will learn to recognise that a wide variety of materials and methods are used to design and make things. They will have opportunities to explore various materials in order to discover their differing properties. They will be taught the necessary skills to enable them to join materials, construct and use equipment safely. We build on the prior learning of the children to give all children the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding and build in progression, so that they are increasingly challenged as they move through the school. As they progress, they will be increasingly challenged to produce their own tasks, planning will be more detailed and they will be encouraged to consider procedures that minimise waste and achieve accuracy and quality.

Parents are informed about their child’s progress in annual reports and through discussion at parent’s evenings. Through whole class teaching, individual and group work and an emphasis on cross-curricular links, we aim to provide an exciting, fun and relevant range of activities which will develop and build on children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, providing opportunities for experimentation, creativity and the exploration and modification of ideas. Children are encouraged to evaluate their own work and that of others. They have opportunities to use a wide range of materials and resources, including ICT to enhance their skills, using paint and draw programs to model ideas, databases to provide a range of information and websites to gather information. In addition, teachers may use some of the freely available resources on the internet which allow for effective teaching of Design and Technology. The Interactive Whiteboard provides a useful tool for delivering a range of teaching aids and can be used for effective teaching of Design Technology. Suitable learning opportunities are provided for all children by:

• Setting common tasks that are open ended and can have a variety of results

• Providing a range of challenges through the provision of different resources

• Using additional adults to support the work of individuals or small groups as necessary according to individual needs

Cross Curricular Links Design and Technology is linked to other areas of the curriculum where possible. Links to Science, Maths, ICT and Art and Design are plentiful. The evaluation of their work and that of others requires children to articulate their ideas and to compare and contrast their views with those of others. Through discussion children learn to justify their own views, clarify their thinking and take into account those of others, enriching work in Literacy and PSHE as children to begin to use and apply skills and knowledge in real contexts. Resources Our school has a wide range of resources to support the teaching of Design and Technology. Classrooms have a variety of basic resources, with the more specialised equipment being kept in the Resources room which is fully equipped for food technology. The levels of stock are monitored regularly and the staff informs the Subject Leader of any additional needs. Health and Safety In the planning of activities, teachers will anticipate likely safety issues. They will also explain the reasons for safety measures and discuss any implications with the children. Children should always be encouraged to consider safety for themselves, others, the environment and the resources they use, when undertaking Design and Technology activities. The following considerations are carried out to safeguard children from being put to unnecessary risk:

• Tools and practical equipment should be kept in good condition, stored safely and well organised

• Appropriate cutting tools are introduced with care and children are supervised at all times in their use

• Care is taken when new items are purchased to ensure their suitability for use by children

• Children are made aware of the skills needed when handling materials

• Children are taught to follow proper procedures for food safety and hygiene

‘Tell me and I forget – show me and I may remember – let me do it, and I

learn. Learning through making works!’ - Prue Leith