Wavertree Church of England School

Belong Believe Achieve

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wavertree-ao@wavertree.liverpool.sch.uk

0151 7331231

Mrs Anna Brooksbank

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Design and Technology

Curriculum

Curriculum Statement of Intent for English

 BELONG 

At our school every child is important, and every child belongs.  They belong in their own right, to their class community, to our school community and to a wider community.  In our Design and Technology lessons children are given the opportunity to work individually and collaboratively, displays are created to contribute to the school community.  Children are given opportunities to observe, explore and investigate existing products and to look at the work of designers and inventors showing the real impact of design and technology on the wider world community.   As children design, create and make products it gives them a sense of belonging to the communities as cited.

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BELIEVE

We have a Christian belief which in turn teaches us to believe in God and ourselves.  We encourage children to develop a sense of belief in themselves, their own abilities, and their creativity.  We believe that every child can become one of the next generation of designers and innovators.    We believe Design and Technology is an opportunity for children to identify real and relevant problems and to creatively design and make something to solve the problems.  We believe that children need to learn the skills to be able to solve these problems.  Our Design and Technology curriculum aims to equip children with the skills and techniques to be able to creatively design and make ‘something for somebody for some purpose’ (D.T. Association) using a variety of materials. 

 

ACHIEVE

Our Christian faith tells us that we all have our God given talents.  Our Design and Technology curriculum gives all children the opportunity to shine and feel a sense of achievement.  There is no ‘right way’ to do things, children are given the freedom to explore and experiment and to evaluate their work accepting that things don’t always work.  They are supported and encouraged to be resilient and to keep on trying.   All ‘work’ is valued which encourages children to believe in themselves and acknowledge their efforts and achievements.

When children are being creative, designing and making something for someone, it gives them a real sense of wellbeing and achievement.  This links in well to our PSHE element of the curriculum and even spirituality linked to religious studies.

Intent

At Wavertree Church of England School, it is our intent to provide a broad and balanced creative Design & Technology curriculum which stimulates and builds on children’s prior learning, skills, knowledge and understanding.  We believe all children of all abilities should be given the opportunity to develop and apply these in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users for a variety of purposes in a variety of contexts. (“Something, for someone, for some purpose.” (D.T. Association))

 We believe we can inspire children to become the next generation of innovators.  We provide opportunities for them to evaluate key events and individuals who have helped shape the world and show them the real impact of design and technology on the wider environment, which will in addition, help them feel like they belong to the wider world community.  We have high expectations and want children to develop confidence and believe in what they can achieve.  

 Our Design and Technology curriculum aims to provide a broad range of practical experiences to inspire and encourage children to use an iterative design process to identify real and relevant problems; critically evaluate existing products; to develop confidence and self-belief to be able to take risks and innovate when designing, creating and achieving solutions to the problems.  During lessons children are encouraged to reflect, evaluate, test and improve their prototypes, recognising and (understanding) that it is acceptable if something doesn’t work as expected initially. 

 We also aim to teach children to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook a range of recipes using the correct tools safely and confidently, including global food, helping children to feel like they belong to the wider world community.

Implementation

Wavertree Church of England School, we believe that Design and Technology is designing and making ‘something for someone for some purpose’ (D.T. Association).  Designing and creating and solving problems like this begins from an early age. 

 In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we provide a rich environment in which we encourage and value creativity and problem solving.  Children are exposed to and experience a wide variety of activities that they respond to, using the various senses.   They are given the opportunity to work alongside different adults.

 Children are given many exciting opportunities to design and make, and solve problems through both continuous provision and adult directed activities as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.  The children’s learning ranges from exploring and creating in the making area using recycling materials, building with blocks and crates and loose parts, to solving real problems for example building enclosures for animals or a house for the three little pigs.  Children are given the opportunity to make a variety of prototypes, eg masks.  They are provided with a range of materials and resources to allow them to explore different techniques for example they have access to glue, sellotape, masking tape, paper clips, hole punches, staplers etc  to allow them to investigate different ways of joining.   

 This learning relates mainly to the ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ area of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which underpins the curriculum planning for children aged nought to five.  Learning in Early Years takes place both indoors and outdoors but on a larger scale.  The planning is based on the children’s own interests which results in activities that are imaginative and enjoyable.

 Children explore their creativity individually, collaboratively in friendship groups and sometimes as a class, helping them to feel like they belong.  They are given opportunities to observe and explore real working products e.g. Torches giving them a sense of belonging to the wider world. 

 All ‘work’ is valued and through photographs and displays children can see this and develop pride and believe they can achieve.  

 In Key Stage 1 and 2 children are taught Design & Technology as a discrete subject using the using the ‘Twinkl PlanIt’ scheme of work.  Design & Technology is taught every other half term alternating with Art & Design.  There are 6 units for each key stage (KS1, LKS2, UKS2) which include a focus on health and nutrition.  These units are divided between two classes.  Therefore, children will have experienced each of the units over 2 years.  Each class will cover a unit based on health and nutrition during the year.

 The ‘Twinkl PlanIt’ scheme encourages and allows for flexibility and autonomy in delivery of the lessons and so our curriculum allows teachers to revise ideas and modify it to best suit the diverse needs of the children in the class.

 Through our Design and Technology lessons, children are given the opportunity to revisit and consolidate skills, helping them build on prior knowledge alongside being introduced to new skills, knowledge and challenge.

 Revision and introduction of key vocabulary is built into each lesson.  There are additional resources provided to help children to repeat and revise this knowledge.

 During Design and Technology lessons, children experience and are exposed to a variety of different inventors and innovators and observe and investigate existing products which may inspire their creativity helping them to feel like they belong to the wider world.

 Children are given the opportunity to work individually and in groups giving them a sense of identity and belonging to the class and school community.

 The ‘Twinkl PlanIt’ scheme provides teachers with guides and subject knowledge to support them in delivering the curriculum.

 Through our Design and Technology lessons, we aim to inspire children to develop a love of Design and Technology and see how it has helped shaped the ever-evolving technological world they live in giving them a sense of belonging to the wider world.

Impact

At Wavertree Church of England School, we strive to demonstrate a clear progression and continuity of a variety of Design and Technology skills and techniques across the year groups.  We aim to inspire children with their own creations by giving them a greater knowledge and understanding of how existing products are made, and about great designers, inventors and innovators.  We want all children to believe in themselves and to be able to feel that they can achieve.   We strive to help children to develop creative, technical and practical expertise confidently and enthusiastically to help them achieve and participate successfully in an ever increasingly technological world.

 The impact of learning in Design & Technology is monitored and assessed in a variety of ways.   We assess the children’s work and achievements in Design & Technology whilst observing them working during lessons.  Each half term teachers assess and evaluate the learning that has taken place based on their observations, photographic evidence and work in children’s books.  The Design & Technology co-ordinator collects examples of evidence from 3 ability groups to show progression of skills.  This information is then entered into a yearly summary grid and analysed. 

 At the end of the year, we make a judgement against the National Curriculum.  This information is used by the teacher to make an annual assessment of achievement and progress for each child, as part of the child’s annual report to parents.  This information is also passed on to the next teacher.

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