Design and Technology (D&T)

"High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation." (The National Curriculum 2014)
 
Design and Technology is an exciting area of the curriculum that combines scientific concepts, technological ideas and creativity. It encourages children to think like engineers and to develop their skills of designing, creating and evaluating. Design and Technology is a practical subject where children are given the opportunity to bring their ideas to life.
 

The development of these important skills, concepts and attitudes is at the root of good primary practice. The Design and Technology process involves analysis, problem solving, making and evaluating skills, all important skills for children to learn in life.

 

At St Chad's, we provide children with the opportunity to work individually and collaboratively in pairs and small groups, to discuss plans, construct their designs, and evaluate their own and their peers’ work. We enable children to develop practical skills, and knowledge of tools and materials, and to appreciate the need for safety both for themselves and those around them. 

 

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (Nursery/Reception) and the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum (Year 1/Year 2) provides us with a basis of the skills and techniques that our children will learn throughout their time at St Chad's.

During the Early Years Foundation Stage, the essential building blocks of children’s design and technology capability are established. There are many opportunities for carrying out D&T related activities in all areas of learning in the EYFS. Specifically, ‘Designing and Making’ is identified as a strand within 'Expressive Art and Design'. By the end of the EYFS, most children should be able to:

  • Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function
  • Share their creations, explaining the process they have used
  • Make use of props and materials when role playing characters in narratives and stories

The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all children:

  • 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 prototypes and products for a wide range of 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
Across Key Stage 1, children are taught:
 
Design
  • design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
  • generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
Make
  • select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing)
  • select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
Evaluate
  • explore and evaluate a range of existing products
  • evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Technical knowledge

  • build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
  • explore ad use mechanisms (for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axels) in their products