Our Vision for D.T.

At Christ Church Primary School, design and technology (D.T.) inspires creativity and imagination and gives pupils a context in which to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems. Our D.T. curriculum encourages pupils to be innovative designers, and they are actively encouraged to think about important issues such as sustainability and enterprise. Children are encouraged to draw on disciplines such as mathematics,

science, engineering, computing and art to fulfil their potential when considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Our D.T. Curriculum

Our design and technology curriculum at Christ Church develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding about the designed and made world and how things work. We have a progressive, well sequenced curriculum throughout school, carefully designed to enable children to develop secure, deep and fluent knowledge and skills.  Throughout their time at Christ Church, pupils develop skills and knowledge in design, structures, textiles, food, mechanisms, electrical systems, and digital skills.  Our curriculum follows the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Design and Technology and promotes the following key areas of learning:

Designing:

• Idea generation: We encourage children to generate and develop creative ideas, making innovative, functional and appealing products.
• Planning: We teach children how to plan and sketch designs, considering materials and tools, including the use of computer-aided design.

Making:

• Practical skills: Children experience hands-on activities using various materials.
• Tools and techniques: Children are taught safe use of basic tools and techniques to create their own products.

Evaluating:

• Testing and improving: Children assess their own and others' work to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Feedback: Children learn how to give and receive constructive feedback.

Technical Knowledge:

• Materials and components: Children learning knowledge and understanding of different materials and their properties.
• Mechanisms and structures: Children learn basic principles of how things work e.g. levers, pulleys and gears.

Key Information

• D.T. units are taught weekly, every other half term, in Years 1 to 6, allowing a total of three project to be completed annually.
• We use the Kapow scheme of work as a foundation for our planning.
• We have a wide variety of materials and tools available to use throughout school.
• Children consider sustainability and the impact of products on our world in many of their projects.
• We encourage parents, carers and wider family members to come into school to support their child in practical D.T. lessons. 
• Children have the opportunity to attend after school activities to further develop D.T. skills and knowledge.
• Additional cooking and nutrition learning takes place throughout the year such as making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and our Happy, Healthy Lunbox weeks.
• Seasonal D.T. lessons are included in our curriculum, for example making Christmas crafts.

Developing Literacy through D.T.

We develop literacy through all areas of our curriculum, including D.T., in the following ways: 

• By using an increasingly broad vocabulary in D.T. lessons to extend children's language, for example when discussing their ideas and designs.

• By encouraging high quality oracy for example, through class discussions, planning, and evaluating what went well or what could be improved.
• Through reading project briefs and research materials, taking notes where necessary.
• When annotating designs and plans.