Design & Technology
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 also 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.
Curriculum Content and Design
In Design and Technology for Key Stages 1 and 2, there are 2 strands of subject content: designing and making, and cooking and nutrition. Through the designing and making strand, each child is given the chance to design, create and evaluate their own products. Children also develop their technical knowledge, for example, how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce a structure.
The cooking and nutrition strand involves pupils learning how to prepare healthy dishes in Key Stage 1, leading to preparing healthy dishes in Key Stage 2. Children are taught where food comes from and this develops into understanding seasonality and know where and how ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
Progression and Outcome
At Heyes Lane, we measure children’s success in Design and Technology across the skills and knowledge they gain through the National Curriculum. From EYFS through to Key Stage 1, then through the Key Stage 2, planning is built on what the children already know and how this can progress forward.
DT in EYFS
In Early Years, pupils experience a wide range of activities linked to expressive art and design. Activities are planned for children to explore, observe, solve problems, think crucially and make decisions about their products. Time is planned to talk to the children about why they chose to make their product in a specific way. Design and Technology is encouraged through focused activities and continuous provision across the Early Years setting.
The foundations for cooking and nutrition are built in the EYFS. Children explore food and begin to understand the basic principles of a healthy diet. Children also begin to use tools effectively to prepare a range of healthy dishes, including pumpkin soup.
DT in Key Stage 1
DT then progresses into Key Stage 1, where, in line with the National Curriculum, lessons are planned to build on the foundations built in EYFS. Key Stage 1 allows children to have control and influence over their products that they are creating during the designing and making process. Children spend time planning their products and evaluate their products based on the design criteria. Children develop the skills needed to build and join effective products based on a design. By the end of Key Stage 1, children will have a bank of technical knowledge and skills which will be built on as they move into Key Stage 2.
Cooking and Nutrition is also taught in line with the National Curriculum. Children are taught the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet. This culminates in a ‘Healthy Bodies, Happy Minds’ project.
DT in Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 further allows children to develop their designing, making and evaluating. Children work to solve problems and create products that are fit for purpose. For example, in Year 3, children design, make and evaluate cuffs for mountain explorers. They explore a range of materials and develop their technical skills in joining pieces together. Children explore a range of mechanisms and joints throughout their time in Key Stage 2. The designing process develops as the children move into Key Stage 2, where more detailed drawings and labels are expected. Children also create more intricate products, and sometimes use circuits in their designing and making. For example, Year 6 create a search and rescue helicopter that uses a circuit in their product.
Cooking and nutrition is also developed where children understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet, this builds on previous knowledge from Key Stage 1. In Year 3, children become personal trainers and help design a healthy meal designed to suit the needs of different individuals with different levels of activity.