Design & Technology

Intent

Our aim is for all pupils to be informed, articulate and empowered:

Design and Technology are valued as part of our rich curriculum and support children to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to understand the role of designers and to plan and create their own work.

Having an understanding of nutrition and basic cookery skills is a key element of DT.

Informed

Children understand the role of design and designers.
Children build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products. Children develop the creative, technical and practical expertise to participate successfully in an increasing technological world.
Children understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Articulate

Through the teaching of subject specific technical vocabulary and opportunities to evaluate and reflect upon design, children develop their ability to think critically and present their views and ideas.

Empowered

Giving a range of Design Technology opportunities supports children’s belief that they too can be great designers and engineers.
Opportunities are sought to work with architects and designers. This gives learning a real life and impactful context e.g. linking up with the Mount Pleasant development to inform our sustainable cities unit or co designing the Pocket Park to be built in 2022.
The ‘trial and improvement’ model in DT means having a growth mind-set is essential empowering children with the confidence to have a go, to learn from mistakes and to keep trying and improving.
Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. This has included designing reusable water bottles for the school, building insect homes and evaluating ways to remove plastic from the ocean.
All children including those who have SEND or are disadvantaged fully access the DT curriculum. This may include additional adult support or use of visuals or adapted tools. Structured sentence stems and taught vocabulary scaffolds children in discussion.

Implementation

The DT scheme of work, developed by staff across all key stages, lays out the sequential steps so that new knowledge and skills build on prior learning and pupils can work towards clearly defined high quality outcomes.
DT is taught in units, with lessons sometimes blocked to allow immersion in the process.
Each strand of DT (Designing and making and cooking and nutrition) is covered and revisited so that pupils retain and build upon prior learning.
DT is resourced with appropriate tools and materials
The DT lead supports teachers and monitors standards by reviewing planning of units, talking to children with their designs and products.
We link with other organisations to enrich DT opportunities e.g. weekly Building Explorers Club with the Sir John Soames Museum for Y4 and Y5 pupils.
Opportunities are sought to link with real world designers and to solve local problems.

Impact

Children at Christopher Hatton can express informed opinions, make connections and have a developing knowledge of designers and cooks from different periods.
Children see themselves as future designers and recognise the important role design plays in our lives.
Children actively engage with creating real world design solutions.

Click here to see DT scheme of work

Enjoy our galleries

Reception Class Making Porridge