Design and Technology
When planning in DT we aim to ignite the ability in all to ‘Love, Laugh and Learn’. This is achieved through recognising the extraordinary and wondrous in everything that we plan across the rich DT curriculum. When coupled with our Christian values and Jesus’s promise ‘I have come to give life and life in all its fullness’. (John 10:10) we are able to provide the children with experiences that will inspire them and ultimately support them to flourish. Our Design and Technology offer supports the children’s cultural capital as we are able to offer experiences and opportunities that they perhaps do not always have outside of the school community setting. It is with these experiences that we can show our children that we are loving out loud; supporting their development, fostering positive futures and opening their minds to a future without limits.
Pupils will participate in at least one Design and Technology unit of work each year, enabling them to build upon key skills and knowledge throughout their school career. Concepts will be taught through an exciting thematic and cross curricular approach to learning. At the start of each unit of work, the pupils will be introduced to the topic through a memorable experience these can include exciting activities in school, visits to museums and workshops delivered by specialist teachers. Following this, the children will complete a series of lessons taking them through the full design process. We believe it is crucial that all children have experience of following the design process from start to finish to ensure they fully develop an inquisitive and practical approach to problem solving and designing products.
The Design process:
- Explore existing products.
- Evaluate effectiveness of products.
- How can they be improved?
Focused Practical Tasks (FPT’s):
- Looking at joining materials.
- Creating effects.
- Levers, mechanisms, pop up devices.
Design:
- Initial designs and final design.
- Instructions of how to make.
- Make – record using photographs.
Evaluate:
- Like / dislike.
- Compare to existing products and peer designs.
- Future considerations and alterations to initial design and specifications to improve design.
Health and Safety in Design and Technology
It is important that children are taught essential life skills to enable them to participate confidently and safely in designing and making in society. Teachers have a duty to introduce children to a wide variety of production processes and the correct tools for the task. Children must design considering health and safety issues and consequences and operate in a safe and hygienic manner when designing. The subject leader, if required, supports teachers to teach the skills necessary ensuring that children can design and make safely.
Risk assessments for the use of tools and glue guns can be found in the related subject folder for Design and Technology. Risk assessments should be accessed prior to lessons that require the use of tools.
The Design and Technology subject leader holds a Level 1 and 2 Food hygiene certificate, ensuring the safety of children and adults whilst preparing food.