DT Intent

Design and Technology gives children the opportunity to design and make products with a clear purpose. It encourages learners to be creative and use their imagination whilst simultaneously learning key skills that will be useful to them in every day life (stitching, nutrition and cooking). It also helps them to understand how things work (structures, mechanisms) but also develop a greater understanding about the world around them. ​

Each unit throughout the school starts with a key question and children are encouraged to discuss, research and consider possible solutions to ensure that their design and their product are both purposeful. In addition to this, our Design and Technology curriculum offers the flexibility to provide the opportunity for cross curricular links to give further context to children's learning. For example in Year 2 children study a text called 'Katie Morag' in English which has a focus on letters and in DT they design and make a bag that they use to deliver letters to people in their local area. They learn the skill of making simple stitches but also see how their product meet its purpose. ​

Progression in DT

At Pinner Wood, the focus in Design and Technology (DT) is for children to learn key skills in several practical areas ranging from Mechanisms to Textiles to Food and Nutrition. There is a clear progression of vocabulary, technique and skill which enables all children to build on their understanding and skill year on year. For example in Key Stage 1 children learn a simple running stich using a needle and thread. This skill is then revisited and advanced in Key stage 2 where they learn a wider range of stiches and learn when and how to use each one effectively. ​

Our other school focus in DT is to ensure that the products that the children make are sustainable where ever possible. We aim to teach our children to be ambassadors for our planet and to consider this carefully when designing their product. We aim to continue to make changes to our planning and  use sustainable materials (e.g pillow cases to make bags and shoe boxes to make houses).

Currently there are four processes that children work through in DT: Research, Design, Make and Evaluate. ​

Research: This may include using their computer skills and/or creating a prototype to identify or test key features of their design. ​

Design: Children use their research and discussions to create their design criteria which informs the design for their product. This helps them to ensure it is fit for purpose but also meets the needs of their target group.​

Make: Select from a wider range of materials, ingredients and/or construction materials to create their product.​

Evaluate: Children evaluate their ideas and products against their design criteria, purpose and target group. They discuss the strengths of their product whilst also considering how might they improve it in the future.

DT Inclusivity and Wider Opportunities

Extra opportunities include:​

• STEAM week- As part of STEAM week where each year group are given their own exciting 'Engineering' task to discuss, explore and create.​

• Thorpe park- An opportunity for selected year groups to visit Thorpe Park and enjoy a range of engaging Science, Creative, Maths and Engineering activities and workshops to enhance learning.

• DT & E Challenge- Children are invited to work in teams to solve a practical problem with their peers in a friendly competition against other schools.

• Business Challenge- In Year 6 children carefully consider a business idea. They learn to design, price and sell products or ideas to the school.