DT - Design & Technology
Intent
Design and Technology is a practical subject that encourages children to learn to think creatively to solve problems, both as individuals and as members of a team. It develops children's confidence, self esteem, sense of curiosity and achievement through a varied range of activities.
At SWINS we encourage children to become actively involved in and develop enthusiasm for the design and make process. They use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. We also aim to make links to designs and designers throughout history, providing opportunities for our children to critically reflect upon and evaluate their designs.
We aim to, wherever possible to link work to other disciplines such as maths, science, computing and art giving the learning purpose and relevance to the children.
Implementation
At SWINS, we use a well-developed, consistent and coherent planning that ensures children are provided with planned lessons, assessment, progression, and engaging resources to support all the requirements of Design Technology within the National Curriculum and related strands of the EYFS.
Across school planning refers to previous learning and builds on the skills and knowledge that the children have already been taught in this subject area.
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge, understanding and range of distinctive skills needed to engage in an interactive process of designing and making.
When designing and making, we plan and deliver agreed lessons, to ensure our pupils are familiar with the design cycle:
- Design – use research and develop design criteria to design for a purpose and communicate their ideas through a range of mediums
- Make – use a wider range of tools and equipment with accuracy and use a wider range of materials and components according to their qualities
- Evaluate – evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
Through this process, the aim is to develop pupils’ technical knowledge and vocabulary in relation to structural design, mechanical and electrical systems, the integration of technology and food production and nutrition. As the children acquire experience and develop confidence, they will be engaged in activities that become more complex and require greater skills and depth of knowledge for success.
Impact
The impact of Kapow Primary’s scheme can be monitored through both, formative and summative assessment. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. Furthermore, each unit has a unit quiz and knowledge organiser which can be used at the start of the unit and at the end to reflect on the learning. After the implementation of Kapow Primary Design and technology, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed academically and implement their skills. The DT curriculum includes practical learning which aids the children to explore their new found skill set. The expected impact of following the Kapow Primary Design and technology scheme of work is that children will: Understand the properties and functions of materials, understand how to use and implement tools for different processes such as shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products. The scheme also encourages children to build and apply a variety of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, creative and innovative outcomes. This includes models, prototypes, and products to suit the needs of the design specification. Children will understand, identify and apply fundamental knowledge regarding healthy eating and a balanced diet. This will include learning recipes, food groups, cooking processes and equipment. The children will understand what makes a healthy diet and how this can be maintained through the food they eat. Additionally, as part of the design process, children will evaluate their work which provides an opportunity to reflect on their learning, the process they have engaged with to make the outcome. The children will reflect on their different stages of learning and self-evaluate areas of improvement. Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve. Children will be assessed formatively and summatively against the Key Stage 1 requirements for Design and Technology in alignment to the National Curriculum.
Vocabulary
Progression
Design & Technology
Policy
Progression of Knowledge and Skills in Design Technology
What does DT look like in Early Years?
Programme of Study
SEND Inclusion Statement
