Implementation

In Key Stages 1 and 2 Design and Technology is taught through the teaching of well-planned lessons using the National Curriculum, the D&T Association ‘Projects on a Page’ and other resources. In the Foundation stage it is taught in a hands–on, child led way, following the guidance in the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. All lessons are planned and adapted to teach the children in the most beneficial way, encouraging cross-curricular links whilst ensuring that Design and Technology remains the main focus of the lessons, when stipulated to be so in the planning.

Key Stages 1 and 2

Each aspect of Design and Technology is visited at least once in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (with the exception of Electricity, this is only required to be taught in Key Stage 2 and is cross-curricular with Science.) Every class carries out three Design and Technology projects per year, one of which is a food based project, to develop the children’s cooking skills and enhance their knowledge and understanding of healthy eating and nutrition. In Key Stage 2 children are given the opportunity to look at key events and individuals in Design and Technology that have helped shape the world.

Foundation Stage

In our EYFS classes the children are given the opportunity to find out about the world they live in and the role Design &Technology plays within it through a number of ways, including:

Asking questions about how things work
Learning about a variety of customs and cultures
Investigating and using a number of construction kits, materials, tools and products.
Developing making skills.

This wide range of Design and Technology experiences the children encounter in the Foundation Stage provides a good basis for future learning in Design and Technology in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Annually, as a School we take part in Dragon’s Den Week, an inter-School competition to design and make products to sell to raise money for the school. This provides high-quality cross-curricular links, notably in mathematics, English and art, whilst teaching key Design and Technology skills with a real-life outcome.

Assessment of children's learning in Design and Technology is an ongoing monitoring of children's understanding, knowledge and skills by the class teacher, throughout lessons. The children are assessed against the skills set out by the National Curriculum. This assessment is then used to inform differentiation, support and challenge required by the children.

Design and Technology is also monitored by the subject leader throughout the year in the form of book scrutiny, lesson observations, looking at outcomes and pupil interviews to discuss their learning and understanding and establish the impact of the teaching taking place.

EYFS pupils' progress and attainment is tracked using the Early Learning Goals, informing teachers whether each individual child is below expected, at expected or above expected attainment for their age.

The Design and Technology Leader is also supported by a School Governor linked to the subject.