Through a variety and creative activities, we teach the knowledge and understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of designing, making and evaluating. This is adapted to the particular needs and requirements of our pupils ensuring the National curriculum is followed. 

Pupils are introduced to specific designers, chefs, nutritionists, etc. helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and increase the cultural capital from which they can draw in the future.

Our curriculum is implemented through the following stages of design, make and evaluate:

Design

• use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.

Make

• select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks (for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing, as well as chopping and slicing) accurately.
• select from and use a wider range of materials, ingredients and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties, aesthetic qualities and, where appropriate, taste. Working together to be the best that we can be.

Evaluate

• investigate and analyse a range of existing products.
• evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.
• understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

Cooking and nutrition

• Cooking and nutrition, with a focus on specific principles, skills and techniques in food, including where food comes from, diet and seasonality.

Technical Knowledge

Each of these stages are rooted in technical knowledge and vocabulary.

• apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.
• understand and use mechanical systems in their products.
• understand and use electrical systems in their products.
• apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.
• Understand some of the ways that food can be processed and the effect of different cooking practices
• where food comes from, its seasonality and the need for a healthy and varied diet. 

Provision in EYFS

Early Years Foundation Stage During the EYFS pupils explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. They have the opportunities to learn to:

•  Use different media and materials to express their own ideas

 Use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about form, function and purpose

• Make plans and construct with a purpose in mind using a variety of resources
• Develop skills to use simple tools and techniques appropriately, effectively and safely
• Select appropriate resources for a product and adapt their work where necessary
• Cook and prepare food adhering to good health and hygiene routine

Assessment

Assessment of DT at both KS1 and KS2 will be based on teachers’ judgments. Assessments take place at all stages of the design, make and evaluate. Class teachers assess children’s understanding in design by using assessment indicators and this is then recorded on our school assessment tracker. This data is then analysed to improve the children’s learning.