Design & Technology

We follow the aims of the National Curriculum to ensure that all pupils:

• 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

Intent
Design and Technology is taught from EYFS to Year 6 at Little Gaddesden School. 

It is our intent for D&T to offer our children the chance to use creative thinking and design with a practical purpose, often linked to their learning in other curriculum areas. Through a range of activities, pupils are taught the knowledge, skills and understanding needed for the processes of designing and making. This follows a sequence that builds on previous learning and ensures a progression of skills.

As well as following a topic-based approach, which allows cross-curricular links to be made, we encourage our pupils to draw on their learning in maths, science, computing and art to complete successful projects and explore the ‘real world’ applications offered by these subjects.

Implementation
We follow a broad and balanced Design and Technology curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for all learners.

Each of our key areas follows the design process (design, make and evaluate). Lessons will incorporate a range of teaching strategies, and our pupils have the opportunity to work on independent tasks, partner work and group projects. An inventive approach is encouraged in all learning, plus time given for ‘trial and error’ investigation. In KS2, computer-based tasks are also incorporated where possible. 

Classes will not have a scheduled Design and Technology lesson each week but will be taught D&T alongside other curriculum subjects. Children’s work and pictures of their work will be stored on Google Drive for reference and assessment.
We want to ensure that Design and Technology is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using design and technology are always taken.

Impact
The expected impact for children learning Design and Technology at Little Gaddesden School is that children will meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Design and Technology.

Through their Design and Technology learning, pupils will be able to design and make purposeful, functioning and appealing products based on design criteria. They will understand how to use and combine tools to combine different processes, and be able to self-evaluate and identify areas for improvement. 

Progress is monitored through formative and summative assessment opportunities. Summative assessment is tracked half-termly via Arbor and our own Curriculum Monitoring documents. Examples of work are saved digitally to assess progress over time, and observations made of how pupils perform in different lessons.

Pupil voice is used as a way of establishing children’s engagement, knowledge and understanding. This includes both within their personal experiences, and Design and Technology’s impact on history and modern life.

DfE Design & Technology Curriculum

Design and Technology at Little Gaddesden – planning overview

Italian Day – breakfast & pizza making.