Design and Technology Intent
At St Faiths, Design and Technology aims to give children the knowledge and skills needed to take part in tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. We aim to give the children new and exciting experiences to stimulate creative thinking while encouraging them to evaluate their own and other designs.
Implementation of Design and Technology
We encourage our children to remember knowledge and build on their prior learning by ensuring we follow a carefully created progression of skills. Teachers recognise the prior learning of their pupils and use this to support the development and progress that their class makes throughout the academic year. Assessment for learning strategies influence following lessons, supporting the consolidation of learning in DT.
Our curriculum design is based on two main principles:
1) Learning is most effective when spaced rather than blocked.
2) Retrieval of previously learned content is frequent and regular, which increases both storage and retrieval strength.
Some of our content is subject specific, whilst other content is combined in a cross-curricular approach.
Early Years
In the EYFS, the ways in which every child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.
Children are taught Design and Technology through the following areas of learning:
Through provision, children safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques. They also experiment with colour, design, texture, form and function. Constant independent and child initiated activities, such as those listed below, support this.
Throughout these activities (and many more), children in EYFS will be constantly evaluating and adapting their designs and ideas based on observations that they make.
Key Stage 1
In accordance with the National Curriculum, children are taught to:
In Key Stage 1, children at St Faiths will design purposeful and functioning products for themselves and others based on certain design criteria. To do this they plan and communicate ideas through discussions, drawings, mock-ups and, where appropriate, the use of technology.
Our pupils will purposely select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform certain tasks. They will consider materials they need based on their characteristics and appropriateness for the desired outcome. Through this, the children will explore and use mechanisms such as levers, wheels and axels to complement their design.
Throughout Key Stage 1 pupils will develop their evaluation skills by evaluating existing products and products designed by themselves. They will use the information gathered to influence their own decisions when planning and creating a design.
At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to know or find out. This ensures that lessons are relevant and take account of children’s different starting points. Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. Planning is differentiated to suit all learners, with special consideration given to support children with SEND.
Cross curricular outcomes in Design and Technology are specifically planned for, with strong links between science and maths identified, planned for and utilised. Additionally, we link Geography with Design and Technology through a project that encourages the use of recycled materials. The local community is fully utilised, as appropriate, to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.
At St Faiths we are very passionate about Design and Technology. The children reflect this passion and feedback shows that the engagement and enjoyment for the subject is high.
Impact of Design and Technology
As a result of our carefully planned curriculum, children at St Faiths use evaluation to become effective problem solvers, both individually and as part of a team. The knowledge and skills gained from Design and Technology lessons can be safely applied in and outside of school. Children will leave St Faiths equipped with knowledge and skills needed to enter the forever changing world that we live in.