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
(National Curriculum, 2013)
Here at Wombridge Primary, we strongly believe that all children should be provided with opportunities to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts.
They will gain specific subject knowledge and use it alongside their knowledge from other subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Knowledge builds knowledge, and we will know that our children have progressed in Design and Technology as they will know more and remember more.
Pupils learn how to take risks, thus becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of our children and allows them to discover new interests, passions and skills that may be of use in future employment.
Design and Technology skills and development are aligned with the National Curriculum (2014) and The Design and Technology Association guidance.
Years 1 – 6 will cover three Design and Technology topics each year (one of which will be a cooking topic). Within each topic, the six key principles of Design
and Technology will be addressed.
Teachers will ensure that each of the six key principles are evident in each topic by encouraging pupils to be reflective in
their work and giving opportunities for pupils to discuss and review their own and others’ work
. All pupils will develop an ability to take risks and become
resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.
The six Design and Technology principles are:
• User
• Purpose
• Functionality
• Design Decisions
• Innovation
• Authenticity
Whilst EYFS do not teach three discrete Design and Technology topics, as the other years group do, they will address aspects of Design and Technology within
their curriculum and as part of their child-initiated learning.
Pupils in EYFS will have the opportunity to take part in activities that involve cooking, expressive arts and design and will begin to use tools and explore joining techniques. The six key Design and Technology principles will begin to be addressed
through questioning (for example, “Who did you make this for?”, “What will you use this for?” etc), by allowing children freedom to make their own design
decisions, and by encouraging pupils to be reflective.
