Design and Technology

Intent

At Ladysmith Infant School, we follow the National Curriculum to shape our Design and Technology learning. We aim to inspire our youngest learners to be curious, creative and confident when designing and making. Through engaging, hands-on experiences, children begin to take risks, explore ideas and develop as imaginative and capable learners. 

By exploring designs from the past and present, pupils start to understand how Design and Technology is part of everyday life and the world around them. 

Through our curriculum, pupils will: 

• develop creative, practical and simple technical skills to help them carry out everyday tasks with growing independence 
• build their knowledge and understanding so they can design and make products for a range of purposes 
• begin to talk about, test and improve their ideas and creations 
• learn about healthy eating and begin to understand basic food preparation 

What do Design and Technology lessons look like at Ladysmith Infants? 

At Ladysmith Infant School, our Design and Technology lessons are carefully sequenced to build children’s knowledge and skills step by step. 

We use simple visual schemas (with pictures and key words) to help children understand and remember important learning. These are revisited regularly so that children can recall what they have learned and make connections over time. Repetition and discussion are key in helping children move their learning into long-term memory. 

Learning is divided into: 

• practical skills (what children can make and do) 
• technical knowledge (what children know and understand) 

Each unit of learning begins with a simple and engaging design brief, often linked to real-life experiences familiar to the children. For example, pupils might design and make a model, a simple structure or a healthy snack. 

Children are supported to think about: 

• what they are making 
• what materials they will use 
• what their product needs to do 

They are encouraged to follow a simple design process: Explore → Design → Make → Evaluate. Along with teaching children to evaluate throughout the process.  

A strong emphasis is placed on talking about their ideas and reflecting on their work, helping children to develop confidence and early critical thinking skills. 

Design and Technology at Ladysmith Infants is highly practical. Each unit includes hands-on experiences where children practise skills such as cutting, joining, shaping and assembling materials. 

How do we make sure that every child succeeds? 

Our Design and Technology curriculum is inclusive and designed so that all children can succeed. We carefully adapt our teaching to meet the needs of every learner, ensuring that each child can access and engage with the curriculum fully. This may include providing adapted tools and materials, offering additional adult support, using visual prompts and hands-on resources, and supporting children’s sensory and physical needs. 

Children are given a range of ways to show their learning, allowing them to demonstrate their understanding in ways that suit their individual strengths. For example, they may talk about their ideas, draw simple designs, build and make, or work collaboratively with others. 

Through this approach, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to feel successful, develop confidence and enjoy being creative.