DT Curriculum Intent

At Dean Field Primary School, we believe that design and technology should be taught in all year groups to prepare children to be independent, work in teams and become creative problem-solvers.

We teach design and technology during specific weeks twice a year linked to the national curriculum objectives for that year group. We also teach Design and Technology during our topic lessons when an objective lends itself well to that learning focus.

Children at Dean Field are encouraged to be creative whilst designing products with a purpose for the correct audience.

We link these objectives with topics they are learning to have strong cross-curricular links such as, cooking and nutrition we link to our class countries and healthy food choices.

As a school, we monitor the progression of design and technology in a book, which evidences the teaching and learning and follows them throughout school. Design and technology is also monitored through observations and pupil interviews to ensure children enjoy their learning whilst making good or better progress.

 

Aims for pupils

 

EYFS:

  • Develop the children’s knowledge and skills that they will build on throughout their school years, such as developing their skills of imagination, experimenting and creativity to learn about the real world around them.
  • The children learn about experiments with media and materials finding out about their properties and modifying and manipulating them. It explores sounds, patterns, movement and different tools and techniques.
  • Be creative and encourage attitudes of curiosity and questioning about skills and techniques.
  • Build on their interests so they lead on to create amazing inventions or to have the confidence to make choices and build on their own ideas which will hopefully help them to retain their ideas and skills ready for key stage 1.

Key Stage 1:

  • Build on their prior knowledge to develop their experience and understanding of expressive arts and design. Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making.
  • Work in a range of relevant contexts for example, the home and school, gardens and playgrounds, the local community, industry and the wider environment.
  • Begin to use language to talk about what they plan to create, how they have made it and to evaluate their product. Most of the learning about design and technology should be done through research, the use of first-hand practical experiences and discussions.

Key Stage 2:

  • Build on their prior knowledge and skills taught in Key Stage 1. They should continue to use a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making.
  • Continue to work in a range of relevant contexts for example, the home and school, gardens and playgrounds, the local community, industry and the wider environment.
  • Continue to use language to talk about what they plan to design, make and to evaluate their product and use their technical knowledge to support their learning. Most of the learning about design and technology should continue to be done through research, the use of first-hand practical experiences and discussions.

How our DT Curriculum Is Constructed

At Dean Field teachers plan lessons around the National Curriculum objectives to build-up skills in each year group by building on previous learning. If all content is taught appropriately for each year groups, the children will build on this as they move through school.

The subject leader provides an overview and a log term plan of what should be taught and when. These are split into two Design and Technology weeks and four MasterChef days for each year group. They are selected to match other curriculum areas to encourage cross-curricular links where possible so these skills can be applied to other areas of the curriculum. Where appropriate, children will have their own ‘My Must Knows’ to ensure they have retained knowledge and skills at a secure level before moving on too quickly and having gaps in their learning.

Children have access to iPads within the classroom to integrate computing in to their lessons

DT Policy

Long Term Planning

 

DT Must Knows

Below, are a selection of the Must Knows that we provide for each year group, for each DT topic covered. These Must Knows are designed to be used at home by parents as part of homework and revision, in school to supplement work in lessons and to recap previous learning. We want every pupil to be able to recall the facts given on the sheet but also to research further into the information provided. These are carefully structured so that knowledge and vocabulary are sequenced and built upon over time. We are confident that these Must Knows will help our children to develop and retain key knowledge on a wide range of topics and will significantly improve their vocabulary.

Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Upper Key Stage 2
Cookery Must Knows

A full range of DT Must Knows can be found on each class’ Seesaw account.

 

MasterChef – Cooking

MasterChef is taught four times within the year. The topics chosen during MasterChef days are planned to encourage children to acquire knowledge and skills to secure a specialised capability in design and technology. They will facilitate a design and make experience; pupils have the opportunity to explore their creative potential by applying their existing skills. Pupils will also evaluate and assess the advantages and disadvantages of a range of other products in terms of their design elements. This could be achieved through observation, handling, testing or disassembly.