Design and Technology (D&T)

Pupils at Becket Primary will follow the KAPOW units of work to support the teaching of Design and Technology. We teach all our design and technology lessons in block units to allow the children to become fully immersed in their learning and the units they are studying. 

Intent

At Becket Primary School we use KAPOW for planning our lessons for pupils in Year 1-6, and are supported by the National Curriculum. Pupils in the Foundation Stage develop their DT skills though continuous provision as they follow the EYFS curriculum. They develop foundation skills for DT through both the prime areas and specific areas. For example, as well as the specific links through Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials), there are also links to self regulation (working towards simple goals), managing self (hygiene and healthy food choices), speaking (discussing ideas) and fine motor skills (use of tools). We aim to link all our Design Technology teaching to our topics which change on a termly basis where appropriate. If it is not possible to link them, DT will be taught discretely from the topic. Teachers will follow their year group’s key learning skills for the design, make evaluate stages and integrate further skills from the unit they are teaching for example, food.  

Design and Technology at Becket Primary School prepares children to take part in the development of tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages children to make positive changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages children to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. It enables them to identify needs and opportunities and to respond by developing ideas, and eventually making products and systems. Through the study of design and technology, they combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, as well as of functions and industrial practices. This allows them to reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and its impacts. Design and technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.  

Implementation

In EYFS, DT is taught as part of the cross-curricular approach, linked to the current topic. For example, when learning about traditional tales, the children investigate different resources to build houses, bringing in aspects from all of the areas of learning as well as the obvious links to Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. 

In Years 1-6, DT is taught through Kapow, with the work schemes linked to topic areas where possible. Where it is not possible to link the work schemes to topic areas in teaching phases, DT is taught as a standalone subject. 

DT is assessed using Development Matters and Early Learning Goals in EYFS, moving onto foundation subject assessment trackers in Years 1-6. 

Impact

The impact of the teaching of DT is assessed in a number of ways. Formal assessment by book trawls and marking of children’s work is used alongside more informal child interviews and photographic and video evidence.  

Through our DT teaching across the school, pupils will have experience of: 

• Following the design, make, evaluate process to meet a goal; 

• Solving real life practical problems using innovation and creativity, both as an individual and as part of a group; 

• Choosing from and using a range of tools and materials; 

• Using and understanding richer technical vocabulary associated with DT; and 

• Preparing a range of healthy, varied and nutritious dishes 

• Parent Guide M Design and technology Curriculum overview 18 12 24