Design and Technology
D&T develops young children’s skills and knowledge in design, structures, mechanisms, electrical control and a range of materials, including food. D&T encourages children’s creativity and encourages them to think about important issues. At Stoke-on-Tern our design and technology curriculum is delivered through projects. Each term, a class has a driver project to which other subject projects will have relevant and meaningful links to. This allows children to apply their substantive knowledge from other subjects in order to enhance their design work. In addition to the systematic teaching of specific design knowledge and skills, we encourage our pupils to take risks and be creative within Design and Technology lessons.
Why is Design and Technology important?
Our D&T Curriculum provides pupils with the opportunity to conduct relevant research; explore and investigate; develop and represent their own ideas and create and evaluate their own work. Design and Technology is about providing pupils with the opportunities to develop their capabilities. By combining their design and making skills with knowledge and understanding, they are able to learn how to create quality products.
D&T in EYFS
The statutory framework for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) clearly identifies and strengthens the role of Design and Technology through fine motor skills, creating with materials and the idea of active learning.
Throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage, pupils are continuously encouraged to explore their creativity, imagination, perseverance and problem solving. Pupils are able to access a wide variety of materials which can be manipulated to design, create and explore. Children will begin to create structures using various resources and construction kits. They explore food, creators and begin to share the work they themselves have created.
D&T in Key Stage One
Pupils in Key Stage One begin exploring the aspects of D&T through a variety of creative and practical activities. They begin to work in a range of contexts to expand their understanding and to learn particular skills and techniques to support their progress. Pupils in KS1 find out about food sources, follow recipes and learn simple cooking techniques, as well as develop their knowledge of structures, learning to cut, join and strengthen wood for the first time.
Pupil’s will begin to develop their understanding of the different strands of D&T: mechanisms, food, structures and textiles.
D&T in Key Stage Two
In Key Stage Two, pupils further develop their design skills through a detailed, researched and thought-out design process. They learn to use research to create purposeful, innovative and functional designs which would lead to an effective and fit-for-purpose end product.
Pupils are encouraged to use their skills and knowledge to make selections from a wide range of materials and components. Pupils in Key Stage Two will expand their technical knowledge; be given opportunities to apply their knowledge of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures and understand and use mechanical and electrical systems.
Children continue to learn about food, understanding the concept of a balanced diet and making healthy meals in the project Cook Well, Eatwell. They learn about food safety and preservation technologies before designing and making packaging for a healthy snack. Additionally, they build on their knowledge of mechanisms, learning about six simple machines and using their knowledge to create a lifting or moving device prototype.
Assessing D&T
Assessing D&T at Stoke-On-Tern is an integral part of the teaching cycle. Long term plans identify what pupils should know at the end of each unit and are used to inform assessments. At the end of the unit, if a final product has been created, this will inform part of the assessment to establish if the pupils were able to apply the knowledge and skills taught during the unit. At the beginning of each unit, prior knowledge and skills are assessed through observations, discussions with pupils and quizzes.
DT National Curriculum Aims
DT Curriculum Overview 24/25
If you would like to know more about Design & Technology at Stoke-on-Tern school, please contact Miss Bennett.