In Early Years, Design and technology is taught through topic work throughout the curriculum. Children have opportunities to explore, create and refine ideas independently to represent items from real-word experiences or imagined ideas. In addition, they are taught skills such as joining materials, using malleable materials (e.g. dough and clay) and sewing through adult-led projects, such as making a diya lamp when learning about Diwali in the autumn; designing and making a soft toy in the Starry Night topic in the spring; and making different types of moveable characters in Puppets and Pop-Ups in the summer term. 

The projects and access to resources in continuous provision enable children to:  

• Use and explore a variety of resources, techniques and equipment in 2D and 3D, making choices and decisions along the way. 

• Explore colour, texture, shape and patterns. 

• Develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. 

• Develop mathematical language, e.g. position, size, shape, comparisons. 

• Manipulate a range of equipment and tools. 

• Develop their own ideas over a period of time. 

• Use resources purposefully, expressing real life experiences. 

• Talk through their ideas.