Intent

Our design and technology curriculum (which follows the 2014 National Curriculum and works alongside the EYFS Framework) gives opportunities for children to ask questions, evaluate products, think of innovative ideas and be creative to adapt and improve existing products or create new products. The curriculum helps to prepare children to make a creative contribution in our ever-changing and evolving world. Children will learn key practical skills needed for construction, as well as basic cooking skills and an understanding of nutrition and food hygiene.

Implementation

Stratton School follows the programmes of study as set out in the National Curriculum. Staff use the ‘Projects on a Page’ scheme of work (from the DT association) to support their planning of each unit, alongside the progression of skills. Each unit is outlined in the DT curriculum map.

Teaching and Learning

Children complete a DT unit each term. During each learning sequence, children will:

• Investigate and evaluate a range of products.
• Complete focussed tasks to practise specific skills.
• Design, make and evaluate their own product.

The learning sequence for each unit is recorded through photo evidence saved onto the cloud. An individual’s work is recorded in a booklet for each unit. Each child has a DT folder to collect their booklets in.

Resources

The curriculum leader works closely with class teachers and uses the curriculum maps to ensure that all resources needed for the following term/year are ordered early and are organised in the DT resource area ready for teachers to access. The curriculum leader and class teachers take responsibility for maintaining resources.

Impact

Teachers will assess the children’s progress informally and formally during the lessons, evaluating progress against the learning objectives of each unit. Teaching staff will report to parents on pupils’ progress once a year and as appropriate.

Children tell us how much they enjoy their DT learning.

Comments from Stratton children:

"I like the freedom to do what you want to do, to design it and make it yourself."

"I like being creative"

"I liked when we sewed puppets, it was a bit tricky, but I got it!"