Design and Technology
Our Design Technology Curriculum aims to inspire and encourage children to use their creativity and imagination. We encourage children to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We believe that high quality, ambitious DT lessons will encourage children to think independently and develop creative and technical understanding. We aim to provide a broad and balanced DT curriculum which provides children with opportunities to research, investigate, develop their ideas, make a product and evaluate their work, building on skills developed in previous years. We aim for all Kingsmead children to become innovators and risk-takers to prepare them for opportunities and experiences in later life.
"You’re given a task but you can design it how you want, not how someone else wants." (UKS2)
At Kingsmead we implement our Design Technology curriculum by delivering well planned and resourced projects providing children with a hands-on and enriching experience of researching, designing, making and evaluating a product for a purpose. Teachers use a progression grid, when creating medium term planning, that ensures full coverage of the required elements of the Design Technology curriculum takes place within each key stage over the course of two years, one year for EYFS. The planned units incorporate the teaching of skills and concepts that build on prior learning in the previous key stage. DT is taught as a block of lessons which allows the time needed for the children to be critical, inventive and reflective on their work. Children are taught a range of skills alongside providing an awareness of any health and safety issues relating to the tools that may be used and tasks undertaken.
DT is taught in 6-8 week blocks, every term, in all KS1 and KS2 classes. In EYFS, DT is embedded throughout the EYFS Framework and is developed through continuous provision. DT is accessible in both the creative and construction areas within the EYFS classroom, where the children thrive by carrying out challenges set by the teacher.
All children, including those with DSEN, have the opportunity to access DT lessons, with support, specialised equipment and scaffolding provided for those who need it.
In EYFS, DT is explored through the umbrella of ‘Expressive Art and Design’ and ‘Understanding the world’. Children are encouraged to think creatively and use resources available in original ways. Teachers support children by questioning, such as ‘What do you think you will add next?’, ‘What could you have done to make your project stronger/faster/bigger? ’This supports the children to evaluate their work using deeper thinking.
In Key Stage 1, the children design, make and evaluate the project they are working on using key vocabulary and critical thinking about the topic. Children follow a design criteria to design their product. When making their product the children select the correct tools and equipment, explaining their choices. This allows children to think about the impact each tool is having. When evaluating we encourage the children to refer back to the initial project design and evaluate how well they have completed it.
In Lower Key Stage 2, the children develop more than one design for their product. They choose the best design and use cross-sectional and exploded diagrams to develop their ideas. They begin to use computer-aided design where appropriate. The children use a wider range of tools for cutting, shaping, joining and fastening. When evaluating, the children consider how well their product meets the design criteria that they set at the beginning of the unit.
In Upper Key Stage 2, children also consider the sequence of their work as part of the design process. They may create models, prototypes or step-by-step plans before beginning their main make. They use ICT to program, monitor and control their products, as well as using ICT to aid design. Children evaluate throughout their making phase, refining and making adjustments as they go. When they evaluate their product, they are able to use technical vocabulary to report on how well the finished product meets the design criteria.
Our Beautiful Work
"People can have their imagination get out." (LKS2)
"I made a flap book. I loved it because when I was younger I loved flap books." (UKS2)
The National Curriculum for Design Technology aims to ensure that all children:
develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
If you were to walk into a Design Technology lesson at Kingsmead you would see:
Children creating a product based on evaluation of existing products.
Creative freedom in how children are approaching the task (within limits appropriate to the lesson).
New skills being taught, explored and developed.
"If you want to make stuff when you’re older or be an inventor, you have ideas." (KS1)