Doddinghurst Infant School

Design and Technology

What our children say about DT

EYFS- Louis 'I like to make things that move like cars, or houses for animals'

Year 1- Hally 'I like making things. The teachers show us how to do it and sometimes we watch a video to help.'

Year 2- Ruby 'We have step by step instructions of how to make things. We use all different materials to make things.'

Our vision for Design and Technology

At Doddinghurst Infant School, our vision for Design and Technology is to create a safe, inspiring environment where children feel confident to explore problem-solve, and bring their ideas to life. D&T at our school is about curiosity, creativity, and practical discovery. Children are encouraged to investigate how things work, try out their own solutions, and develop resilience as they design, make, and evaluate.

Children are giving support and encouragement to SHINE, regardless of their starting point. We believe that Design and Technology should nurture children’s wellbeing as much as their technical skills, understanding that they belong, their ideas matter, and they can take risks whilst experimenting with materials, tools, and mechanisms.

Our aim is for children to feel valued, capable, and inspired whilst accessing our D&T curriculum to explore real-world problems and test their thinking. We want to develop the confidence of our children to give them the self-belief that they are able to create purposeful products. We celebrate individuality, remove barriers, and ensure every child knows that their ingenuity and imagination are powerful.

How we teach DT

Our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully planned to meet the expectations of the National Curriculum while reflecting our core values of self-belief, happiness, independence, nurture and excellence. Through an enquiry-based learning approach, we ensure that all children have the opportunity to develop a deep and secure understanding of design processes, practical skills, and key technical knowledge. Clear teaching, hands on exploration, and positive encouragement help every child grow in confidence as a young designer and maker whilst linking in with the enquiry question.    

Teachers model skills systematically so that children understand how to use tools, materials, and equipment safely and effectively. We adapt the given resources and teaching approaches to meet the need of each individual learner to ensure they feel nurtured, encouraged and can succeed.

Through our enquiry questions and key concepts-including critical thinking, problem solving and creativity-children learn to evaluate their work, explore alternative ideas and develop purposeful solutions. They are encouraged to design, make and evaluate with increasing independence, whilst also learning about the work of engineers, inventors and designers who have shaped the world around them. By nurturing curiosity and encouraging children to take risks in a supportive environment, we aim to inspire a lifelong interest in how things are made and how ideas can be brought to life. 

We have dedicated D&T resources in well-organised spaces to provide a welcoming, inclusive environment where children feel safe to investigate experiment and create. Through balance of modelling, practise, exploration, and inspiring experiences, we help children develop confidence, independence, and a rea enjoyment of Design and Technology.

What children learn and achieve 

Design and Technology at our school gives children the chance to discover their creativity, develop confidence, and build self-belief through purposeful, hands on learning. Children learn practical skills and begin to see themselves as young designers and makes who can solve problems and bring their ideas to life. Children talk about what they have created using rich vocabulary and they can share their thinking with others. Our nurturing and inclusive approach ensures that every child takes part, is successful and has a pride in their achievements. Through carefully taught skills, repeated practice, and opportunities to revisit techniques, children grow in independence, resilience, and confidence as they see their progress over time. We value the importance of celebrating children's work and provide opportunities for whole school projects, practical challenges, and links to real- worls designers and engineers. By the time children leave our infant school they have a secure foundation of DT skills, an enthusiasm for creating and problem solving, and the confidence to expolre new ideas as they move into Key Stage 2 and beyond. They know that their ideas matter, that they can take risks and that they are capable of designing and making with purpose and imagination.

Enrichment

We ensure the children are provided with opportunities to develop their Design and Technology skills and understand how it is present and celebrated in every day life. We look at designers and focus on how things were made so the children understand the purpose behind things they see. We explore the local area and invite visitors in to school to talk to the children about the real life experience of the design, make and evaluate process. Art and DT are linked for a weeks project where the children can explore their creativity and imagination to design and make products of their iinterest. We value pupil voice and this plays an important role in the children's learning at our school. Listening to the children and their views have enabled us to guide our practise to help the children make and invent meaningful products. 

DT subject progression at Doddinghurst Infant School

DT vocabulary progression at Doddinghurst Infant School

 

 

Growing up, I was always helping my grandad to build and make different things to play with. I was taught from an early age the importance of designing, making and evaluating which has given me a passion to lead an enriched Design and Technology curriculum in our school. I enjoy fostering a nurturing environment through encouraging creativity, problem solving and developing practical skills through designing and making. I believe children should be able to achieve their goals which is why here at Doddinghurst, every design is accepted, every product made is celebrated and we teach evaluation skills to support children in reflecting on work they produce.

How families can help at home

-        Use recycled materials or natural resources found around the home to encourage creative art.

-         Brentwood Library – free craft sessions and themed workshops https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/events/location/brentwood/87?

-         CREST Awards Resource Library – provides free activities for EYFS and primary school age children. For as little as £1, join challenges to receive a Star CREST award. https://www.crestawards.org/primary-early-years/

-         NUSTEM Early Years STEM Activities Online https://nustem.uk/eyfs/

Engage in LEGO building and junk modelling at home.