Design and Technology Curriculum Aims

Through the process of 'Research, Design, Make, Evaluate', our curriculum is designed to enable pupils to learn key technical knowledge, skills and understanding needed to succeed in creating their own products. We provide lots of opportunities for individual choice in the designs and products they make, encouraging creativity not just in design, but also in ways to improve their product. We teach our children to be reflective and the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of their product, suggesting improvements. To support them with this, our children are challenged to be resourceful and apply the knowledge, skills and understanding they have acquired previously.  

Cooking and nutrition also features strongly across our Design and Technology curriculum, ensuring children know where food comes from, how to make a range of healthy dishes and why it is important to make healthy life-choices. 

Teaching Design and Technology

Our Design and Technology curriculum is based on the EYFS Curriculum and National Curriculum and is taught through our engaging topics. Within Design and Technology lessons, we give children the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and in group situations. Children use a wide range of materials and resources, and are taught how to use tools and equipment safely and responsibly. Teachers teach the safe use of tools and equipment and insist on good practice prior to starting the making part of a task. For example in relation to sharp objects, such as knives and needles; and personal hygiene when handling food, such as washing their hands and wearing a clean apron. Our Design and Technology curriculum aims to develop a range of knowledge and practical life skills that pupils will be able to apply to their experiences in the wider world. 

Design and Technology Progression

In Reception, children design models, constructing purposefully with a range of materials. They learn how to use a range of tools, for example scissors, hole punch, stapler, rolling pins, pastry cutters, with increasing control. Year 1, children design and make Victorian-inspired peg dolls and soldiers as part of their Time Travellers topic and a castle with a moving drawbridge as part of their Castles topic. In Year 2, children learn how to attach wheels to an axel and axels to a chassis to make a vehicle move and create their own card with a moving picture. With regard to cooking and nutrition, children in Reception decide what foods would be suitable for a Pirate Party and prepare them. In Year 1, children learn how to make a salad and in Year 2, they enjoy making a breakfast dish. For further information about our Design and Technology curriculum and progression, please view our Design and Technology Knowledge, Skills and Understanding Progression Grid.