Design and Technology

What Is DT About?

Design and Technology encourages children to understand and shape the world around them by exploring how products are designed, made and used. In line with the National Curriculum, our DT lessons empower pupils to be creative, resourceful and innovative, equipping them with practical skills and the confidence to solve real-life problems. Through researching existing products, experimenting with materials and evaluating their own ideas, children learn to think critically, make informed decisions and refine their work with increasing independence. By designing and making purposeful, functional products for a range of users, pupils gain an understanding of how technology influences our daily lives and how thoughtful design can improve the future. These experiences help them develop resilience, teamwork and technical knowledge while nurturing an appreciation of the role design plays in shaping human progress. 

Our Vision

Here at Heyes Lane, we want the children to leave us with the knowledge and critical thinking skills that are developed through Design and Technology. Children are encouraged to become independent and creative problem solvers. They think as individuals and as part of a team. It is our intention to nurture a love of designing and making with relevance to the modern changing world and its development. Children will improve their communication skills through Design and Technology, specifically when children are asked to collaborate with their peers and communicate their thoughts and ideas. Design and Technology also builds resilience and problem-solving skills as children are encouraged to face problems that may arise through the design processes of their product. Children are given time to go back and revisit their product to ensure it is fit for purpose. 

Children will develop an understanding of designing, making and evaluating through exploring products children have made and products that already exist. Children will leave us with a sound technical knowledge, relating to mechanisms, structures and textiles. This knowledge and technical skills are developed as children move through Heyes Lane, with many aspects being built on previous learning. 

What Does DT Look Like At Heyes Lane?

Design and Technology learning at Heyes Lane always begins with a clear design brief that captures pupils’ interest and defines both the user and purpose of their work, giving every project a meaningful real-world context. DT is taught through three projects each year: two drawn from the categories of mechanisms, structures, textiles, electrical systems and mechanical systems, and one dedicated cooking and nutrition project. Each unit also features an inspiring chef, engineer or creator whose work children study to appreciate the real-life relevance of the subject and the careers it connects to. 

Our curriculum is built around overarching concepts—innovation and appreciation & connection—as well as the substantive concepts of user, purpose, functionality and decision making. These substantive concepts help to group both practical and theoretical knowledge, and pupils revisit each concept every year in a range of contexts to deepen understanding and make secure, long-term links.  

Throughout each project, pupils follow the sequence of explore, design, make and evaluate, allowing them to build their learning in small, purposeful steps. During the exploratory stage, children investigate real products so they can understand how everyday items are constructed, how they function and how thoughtful design choices impact the user. Throughout the design phase, children use what they have learned to generate ideas rooted firmly in the needs of the intended user and the purpose of the product. In the make phase, they apply technical skills, creativity and problem-solving strategies to bring their designs to life. Finally, in the evaluate phase, pupils use the vocabulary, knowledge and skills they have acquired to assess both their own products and those of their peers, thinking critically about how effectively each design meets its intended purpose. 

Throughout the DT curriculum pupils have the opportunity to work both independently and collaboratively, developing resilience, communication and pride in their achievements. Learning is celebrated across the school, with older pupils often creating items for younger children, reinforcing the authentic impact of thoughtful design. Children share their progress through photos and videos on Seesaw as well as during year group showcases, ensuring families and visitors can see the creativity, innovation and technical skill at the heart of DT at Heyes Lane. 

How do we assess children and evaluate DT?

Assessment in Design and Technology at Heyes Lane is purposeful, supportive and designed to help children know more, remember more and apply their learning with increasing confidence. At the end of each project, pupils complete a child‑friendly quiz that enables teachers to check understanding of key knowledge, concepts, vocabulary and processes. This is complemented by ongoing assessment throughout lessons, including observations, discussions, practical tasks and the work children produce during the explore, design, make and evaluate phases. Together, these approaches help teachers identify pupils’ strengths and their next steps in learning. 

When assessing and evaluating the overall impact of our D&T curriculum, we look closely at how children are developing across several key areas. These include: 
· An increasing breadth and depth of product knowledge and technical understanding linked to the substantive concepts of user, purpose, functionality and decision making (substantive knowledge) 
· A growing understanding of how D&T works as a discipline, including research, problem‑solving, modelling, testing and evaluating (disciplinary knowledge) 
· Developing expertise in practical and creative skills, such as selecting materials, using tools safely and accurately, and following the design–make–evaluate cycle (procedural knowledge) 
· Increasing independence as designers and makers, becoming more confident in generating ideas, making decisions and refining their work 
· A stronger ability to innovate and make meaningful connections, thinking deeply about how design improves everyday life and how products meet the needs of different users 

These principles help us understand the progress children make over time and the effectiveness of our curriculum design.  

How You Can Help at Home 

Parents can play a valuable role in supporting Design and Technology learning at home by encouraging children to explore how things are made and how they work. Simple activities such as cooking or baking together help children develop important skills like measuring, following instructions and understanding how ingredients change when heated or mixed. Visiting museum exhibits that feature inventions, engineering or design can spark curiosity and inspire children to think creatively about the products they use every day. Construction toys - such as blocks, Lego or magnetic tiles - are also a fantastic way for children to experiment with structures, mechanisms and problem-solving as they create their own models. Through these enjoyable hands‑on experiences, families can help reinforce the design, make and evaluate process that children learn in school while nurturing creativity, resilience and a love of practical learning. 

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