DT

Intent

Through the teaching of Design and Technology, we develop creativity and imagination. In this practical subject, pupils are given the opportunity to design and make products with a purpose. Within the food technology units, children will learn about food safety, hygiene and healthy eating. Children learn to use and apply their knowledge and skills from mathematics, science, computing and art. The subject enables children to problem-solve and take risks in a safe environment. Children develop confidence in selecting and using appropriate tools and materials. Our sequence of lessons follow a product design cycle through planning, creation and evaluation. 

Implementation

Design and Technology skills and understanding are built upon throughout the key stages. This allows for the revision of ideas to become part of good practice and helps to build a depth to children's understanding. Through revisiting and consolidating skills, the lesson plans and resources help children build on prior knowledge alongside introducing new skills, knowledge and challenge. Each year group focuses on a different functioning product and cooks a different dish focusing on building new skills and understanding. The revision and introduction of key vocabulary is built into each lesson. The short-term plans provide teachers with accurate design and technology subject knowledge and allows them to feel confident and supported with the skills and knowledge. The units are planned to inspire the children to develop a love of Design and Technology and see how it has helped shaped the ever-evolving technological world they live in.

At the start of every topic, children will use a knowledge organiser which allows them to build a picture of what’s to come and throughout the unit, refer back to for definitions and visual prompts. Teachers will continuously check children’s understanding by activating previous knowledge at the start of each lesson.

Impact

DT is enjoyed by teachers and pupils across the school. Teachers have high expectations and engagement is evident in lessons. The children have the opportunity to experience a wide range of resources and tools. Children use technical vocabulary accurately and pupils understand how their lessons build on previous learning. Children apply the methods they are taught and understand the design process from planning to creation and evaluation. Children show a clear understanding of food hygiene and healthy eating. Children in school can speak confidently about their DT skills. Impact can also be measured through key questioning skills and quizzes built into lessons.

DT plans are created by the subject leaders of the five schools of Spring Trust and audited by the Trust Subject Leader. Every planned DT unit includes continuous assessment where each lesson begins with questions about the previous week’s learning and ends with quizzes to reflect on new learning.

In order to measure the impact of teaching, the subject lead will conduct regular monitoring through pupil interviews, learning walks and book looks. Moderation meetings will in turn take place half termly with subject leads from other Spring Partnership Trust schools to scrutinise lesson plans and discuss monitoring and feedback outcomes in order to develop the subject further.