Intent:

At Well Green, we encourage children to use their creativity and imagination, to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We aim to, wherever possible, link work to other disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. The children are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses and its effectiveness. We seek to:

• develop the children’s creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• allow children to build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users and critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
• enable children to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Implementation:

 Design and Technology at Well Green is taught in blocks throughout the year so that children can achieve depth in their learning. The leadership team have identified the key knowledge and skills for each blocked topic and careful consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school.

DT planning is detailed and encompasses investigative and evaluative activities of existing products, focused practical tasks to develop skills and the designing, making and evaluating of the children’s own products. Children’s end-of-topic work is presented in booklet form including photographic evidence of their products and shows clear evidence of their learning. Wherever possible, lessons are cross-curricular.

 Our Kagan strategies, based on collaborative learning in small groups, promote depth of learning as children are able to share their ideas and formulate their own questions in a mutually supportive environment where everyone’s ideas are valued. The sensible use of DT tools including glue guns, saws and drills is underpinned in lessons to promote children’s understanding of safe work practice. Since each year group makes an edible product, food hygiene and the risks of food contamination and poisoning are highlighted in detail with emphasis placed on regular handwashing and knowledge of safe food storage.  

The DT leader undertakes monitoring of work each year and planning scrutiny. Summative assessments are made at the end of each unit at the end of each half term.

Impact:

The school has a supportive ethos and our approaches support the children in developing their collaborative and independent skills, ensuring that all children experience challenge and success in DT by developing a Growth Mindset. Outcomes in DT booklets and their own products, clearly evidence a broad and balanced DT curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge and skills.