Vision and Rationale
Design and Technology at
Burton Road Primary School.
Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. At Burton Road Primary School children are taught to select and use appropriate tools safely and effectively to make a product. In all areas of Design and Technology the children are encouraged to consider the effectiveness of their designs and requirements of the product. Every child will have the opportunity to learn and extend their understanding, experience and application in the use of technology, including I.C.T, in as wide a variety of situations as possible.
Aims and Objectives
· to deliver programmes of study for Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum in Design and Technology;
· to develop imaginative thinking in children and to enable them to talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making;
· to enable children to talk about how things work, and to draw and model their ideas;
· to encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques for making a product, whilst following safe procedures;
· to explore attitudes towards the made world and how we live and work within it;
· to develop an understanding of technological processes, products, and their manufacture, and their contribution to our society;
· to foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making.
The Curriculum The Design and Technology curriculum contains two strands of subject content:
- Design and making- Each Design and Technology project should include elements of:
· Designing
· Making
· Evaluating
· Technical knowledge
- Cooking and nutrition- When designing products, pupils should consider:
· User – pupils should consider who their products are for
· Purpose – pupils should decide which tasks their products will perform · Functionality – pupils should think about how their products will work · Design Decisions – pupils should think about how their products will work
· Design Decisions – pupils should have opportunities to make informed choices
· Innovation – pupils should have scope to be original with their thinking
· Authenticity – pupils should design and make products that are real, believable and can be evaluated through use.
Children entering the Early Years Foundation Stage at Burton Road Primary School, are presented with a Design and Technology enriched curriculum which promotes opportunities within the environment to be creative and imaginative with the products they design and create. The planned provision within the environment presents children with opportunities to independently build upon their knowledge to design, make and problem solve. Children at this stage are good at being creative and need development in the fine motor skills to support the making
Our Progression in skills document ensures these key skills are taught from EYFS and progress through to KS2.
As children continue into KS1, opportunities to build upon knowledge acquired in the EYFS are presented through focused activities linked to curriculum planning. Children develop their understanding of the design process and learn how to select appropriate materials. We recognise that some children may still have gaps in their knowledge of problem solving and completing simple cutting tasks, hindering the implementation stage of the process and so the carefully planned projects at this stage intend to continue to develop these skills.
In KS2, children have opportunities to continue to acquire key skills and build upon their abilities to design, make and evaluate their products. Opportunities to cook and understand the importance of nutrition are included in the Long Term planning cycles to ensure children develop a love for cooking and healthy eating.