Design and Technology 

"The essential part of creativity, is not being afraid to fail."

Edwin H. Land (May 7, 1909 – March 1, 1991) scientist and inventor, co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation

"You can't use up creativity. the more you use, the more you have."

Maya Angelou

Design Technology prepares children to deal with the ever changing world in which we live. It encourages children to become independent, autonomous creative problem solvers, to work as individuals and as part of a team - making positive changes to their quality of life. D&T enables children to identify needs of the consumer and creates opportunities to respond to them by developing a range of ideas and through making products and systems. Through the study of Design and technology, the children are able to combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, sustainability, as well as functions and production. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impacts. 

Important Design and Technology Curriculum Documents

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the EYFS, the children will have a range of opportunities to explore and use a variety of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. The children will use different media and materials to express their own ideas, thinking about form, function and purpose. The children will have opportunities to construct with a purpose in mind and use simple tools and techniques, effectively and safely. The children will also cook and prepare food adhering to good health and hygiene routines.

In the Foundation Stage, we encourage the development of skills, knowledge and understanding that help Early Years children make sense of their world as an integral part of the school’s work. These early experiences include asking questions about how things work, investigating and using a variety of construction kits, materials, tools and products, developing making skills and handling appropriate tools and construction material safely and with increasing control. We provide a range of experiences that encourage exploration, observation, problem solving, critical thinking and discussion. These activities, indoors and outdoors, attract the children’s interest and curiosity

The Design and Technology Curriculum

The content of Design and Technology teaching and learning is set out in the 2014 National Curriculum for primary schools in England. Within this, skills are repeated across year groups, meaning that children may revisit a particular skill in different year groups throughout their time at Mitton Manor but with increasing difficulty and with a different focus each time.

E.g. Textiles, Year 2 – Join textiles using appropriate stitching for support (running stitch)

                     Year 3 – Join textiles using appropriate stitching (running stitch and cross stitch)

                     Year 5 - Join textiles with a combination of stitching techniques (e.g. back stitch for seams and running  

                                       stitch to attach decoration)

The national curriculum for design and technology aims 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

In Key Stages 1 & 2, the D&T curriculum is organised into units wherein children will be involved in investigative work and taught skills. Each unit is taught on a termly basis and each year group will cover at least three units per year; including or as well as Cooking and Nutrition. Selected units can be “blocked” each term or taught through a weekly session. Most D&T work is taught in the classrooms, and most Cooking and Nutrition projects are taught in the cookery room. In D&T, children are encouraged to work both individually and co-operatively: class teaching is used where appropriate. Within this structure, groups are usually of mixed ability. Children are encouraged to develop inter-personal skills through discussion, enquiry and negotiation with their peers or as part of a team.

During D&T lessons, many cross-curricular links are observed.  Maths links are easy to come across during any D&T lesson; children are continuously measuring during the ‘design’ and ‘make’ phases of lessons. During cooking topics, children are measuring out ingredients, as well as calculating the quantities of different recipes. Instructions are often created as part of the ‘design’ phase, which has a direct link to English. Through the children presenting their products confidently oracy skills are practiced. Science knowledge is practiced when children are creating products that contain electrical components, for example Year 4 children use their knowledge of electrical circuits. Teachers also encourage children to consider the impact their product can have on the wider world, to ensure they realise the difference they may make in the future.