Design & Technology
Design and Technology is a subject that allows children to be creative, show self-expression, develop techniques and create innovative designs. At Thorner Primary School children have the opportunity to use a variety of materials, develop motor skills, learn new vocabulary and processes to develop products based on a design brief. We encourage children to persevere, believe in their abilities and use time and effort to ensure that they learn from prototypes and develop new designs as well as supporting others in their creativity. It allows children to appreciate inventions and develop understanding of how things work as well as teaching life skills like cooking.
Intent
The National Curriculum for Design & Technology aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
- Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
- Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
At Thorner Primary School children are immersed in Design and Technology experiences from the moment they come through the doors in reception. Pupils develop their skills and understanding of techniques, putting them into real life contexts, whilst teachers help them to provide a strong understanding of the importance of following instructions to be safe. Children make links when developing DT skills, to real life, to understand the importance and relevance of these life skills and are helped to see the bigger picture that links DT to science, technology, food, engineering, architecture, maths through teachers exploring and exploiting cross curricular links. Pupils develop their understanding of the uses and implications of design and food technology, today and in the future.
Implementation
Our curriculum has been designed in order to ensure that children experience a progressive experience across all strands of Design Technology. These span both the disciplinary skills of Design Technology, and the strands of technical knowledge which children are expected to know and remember through the course of their DT learning experience.
Teachers select specific knowledge and skills from the DT curriculum progression model to form a sequence of lessons, always following the teaching sequence of: Design, Make and Evaluate.
In EYFS, DT is taught through a play-based approach that encourages children to develop their practical skills and to gain a knowledge of Design Technology in everyday life. Children can access a wide range construction and design materials, including junk modelling, blocks, and large-scale construction items outside. Children also have access to a variety of open-ended materials, to inspire original ideas and imaginative play. During this, explicit vocabulary will be introduced and modelled to the children, e.g., construct, mould, shape, attach etc.
In Years 1-6, our Academy Progression Model has mapped out a yearly overview to show progression of skills throughout these year groups. Per year there are 3 units that have a recommended end product, where teachers have the opportunity to change and adapt these to suit their sequence of learning within other subjects.
Impact
- Children will have gained knowledge and understanding of different skills and techniques required to problem-solve.
- Children will design and create a variety of products using a safe approach.
- Children will be able to express their creativity through designing.
- Children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in Design and Technology that they will then apply to other areas of the curriculum.
- Children will continue to build upon skills each year.
- Children will be familiar with the design cycle as they record work in greater detail.
- Children self-evaluate their end pieces against its strengths and weaknesses then offer ways to improve their work.
- Children gain a firm foundation of knowledge and skills that they can use beyond school and into adulthood.
