Design and Technology has never been more relevant in primary education. It is a subject that encourages children to think both creatively and scientifically – often at the same time.  If we are to continue  with British design being relevant on the world stage, then we need our future designers and creative thinkers to be nurtured from the start.  

D&T is often one of a child’s favourite subjects. Children like making decisions for themselves and doing practical work. They love creating products they can see, touch – and even taste – for themselves. D&T brings learning to life. It is a motivating context for discovering literacy, mathematics, science, art and design, PSHE and ICT.  Design and Technology education helps develop children’s skills through collaborative working and problem-solving and encourages them to be creative and innovative.

D&T involves two important elements

 - learning about the designed and made world and how things work

-learning to design and make functional products for particular purposes and users.

Our D&T curriculum is designed around five key strands which are cooking and nutrition, textiles, mechanisms, structures and electrical systems. The children complete three different units each year.This structure also includes EYFS, and ensures that learning is progressive and children are able to revisit, build-on and extend their previous learning and skills. Learning in each unit is planned around the Design – Make – Evaluate process to ensure there is a balance between developing children’s knowledge and understanding of product design, application of acquired Technical Knowledge and skills to their final outcome and also an opportunity to learn about great architects, designers, engineers and chefs.

There are three core activities children engage with in Design and Technology:

• Activities which involve investigating and evaluating existing products.

• Focused tasks in which children develop particular aspects of knowledge and skills.

• Designing and making activities in which children design and make 'something' for 'somebody' for 'some purpose'.

Ms Foster