Curriculum

D.T.

Meet our School Ambassadors for Design Technology:

Lucas, Holly, Sebastian, Edward, Anna, Isla, Sophie, Wiktor, Matthew and Henry

Purpose of Design Technology

At Manor Road, children learn to produce practical solutions to real problems. They  develop technical understanding and making skills, learn about design methods and investigate their environment and the materials around them.

Intent

At Manor Road, we intend to build a Design Technology curriculum which encourages children to learn to find practical solutions to real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs.

In all pupils, we aim to:

• 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 products for a range of uses and 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
• develop growth mindset through collaborative working, risk-taking and problem solving

Implementation

• D.T. is taught in every year group with a unit in each school term with a balance across each key stage (textiles, mechanisms & electrical systems, structures and food)
• Teachers have flexibility to plan D.T. as a block of lessons to allow the time and focus needed for the children to be critical, inventive and reflective.
• Each class uses a floor book to which children’s contributions are added during the stages of a project in order to show the learning process within a design unit . This enables full learning journey to be reflected upon and understood by the children.
• Teaching of D.T. is based upon the six principles: user, purpose, functionality, design decisions, innovation and authenticity with projects following the cycle of:
  • Research, explore and investigate existing products
  • Learn and develop skills, using a range of tools, techniques, materials and components safely
  • Develop ideas
  • Make (with continuous evaluation and adaptation and applying their learning from across the curriculum)
  • Evaluate, according to design criteria

• Teachers follow a clear progression of skills to ensure all pupils can be challenged in line with their year group expectations and given the opportunity to build on their prior knowledge.

Early Years Foundation Stage :

During the EYFS pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have the opportunities to learn to:

• Use different media and materials to express their own ideas
• Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about form, function and purpose
• Make plans and construct with a purpose in mind using a variety of resources
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques appropriately, effectively and safely
• Select appropriate resources for a product and adapt their work where necessary
• Prepare food adhering to good health and hygiene routines

Impact:

Children will have clear enjoyment and confidence in Design and Technology that they will then apply to other areas of their lives. Through carefully planned and implemented learning activities, the pupils develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.

Pupil’s skills and knowledge are assessed by the class teacher throughout lessons using expectations outlined in the National Curriculum and refined in our Progression of Skills document. Through the use of a termly assessment record, we identify and track the children who are achieving well, as well as those who are in need of additional support, which allows for targeted planning. Discussions between the subject ambassadors and subject leader allows children to use their class floor books to share their learning and understanding.