Intent

At Radcliffe on Trent Infant and Nursery School we use the Kapow scheme as a basis for our scheme of work in Design and Technology. Our scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to be innovative and creative thinkers who have an appreciation for the product design cycle through thinking of ideas, creation and evaluation. We want pupils to develop the confidence to take risks and guide them through drafting design concepts, modelling and testing and aim to teach them to be reflective learners who evaluate their work and the work of others. We aim to build an awareness of the impact of design and technology on our lives and encourage pupils to demonstrate their initiative and resourcefulness.

Our Design and technology scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets in the National curriculum and EYFS (Reception) children work on the Development matters statements to attain the Early Learning Goals.

Implementation

Design and Technology at Radcliffe on Trent Infants is incorporated into our half termly topics. Using the Kapow Design and Technology scheme, pupils respond to design briefs and scenarios that require consideration of the needs of others, developing their skills in four key areas:

● Mechanisms

● Structures

● Textiles

● Food – including where food comes from, diet and seasonality.

At Radcliffe on Trent Infants the Rainbow Values are incorporated into each part of the design process.

● Design – we learn how to be creative and share our thoughts by reflecting on previous experiences to aid the design process.

● Make – we demonstrate resourcefulness and resilience during this practical strand.

● Evaluate – we are kind and respectful to ourselves and others as we reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our designs and models. We also demonstrate curiosity when testing out the finished product.

Technical knowledge is also an important part of the design process and is incorporated into each session where knowledge is reflected upon and new vocabulary learnt.

The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key areas revisited again and again with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to reflected on and build on their previous learning. Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including practical hands-on and inventive tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. The children are encouraged to recall key facts and vocabulary.

Impact

During each lesson in Design and Technology, teachers assess their pupils against the learning objectives. In school our children are:

· Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria.

· Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates and mock ups.

· Select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients according to their characteristics.

· Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks eg cutting, shaping and joining.

· Explore and evaluate a range of existing products.

· Evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria.

· Build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable.

· Explore and use mechanisms eg levers and sliders, in their products