Intent:

At St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, we believe that Design and Technology should be fully inclusive for every child. 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.

Through our DT curriculum we ensure that children are inspired by engineers, designers, chefs and architects to enable them to create a range of structures, mechanisms, textiles, electrical system’s and food products.

Implementation:

We block teach our DT curriculum termly so that our children can fully immerse themselves in their projects and see them to a conclusion, while also having time to evaluate and reflect on their work. We aim to interweave DT into our science curriculum so that clear learning links are visible in lessons. Adapted scheme planning is used for most of the DT units alongside some of our own bespoke units to allow for a closer link to our broad and balanced curriculum.

All pupils are given an age appropriate knowledge organiser for each topic which outlines key information they will be learning, key vocabulary and images of the products or food they will be creating. These Knowledge Organisers are referred to during lessons and can be taken home by the children to reinforce and support learning.

Children are able to access high quality resources for their projects whether this be specialist DT equipment or fresh cooking ingredients. We have our own DT resource section in school where equipment is stored. High-quality topic resources are ordered termly for each project.

Work is evidenced on Seesaw. Each year group records pictures, videos and worksheets from each lesson in their DT folder for each topic taught. Verbal marking and feedback is given to the children during lessons to allow them to edit and up-level their work.

Impact

The impact of this implementation is that pupils enjoy and are thriving in an innovative and inclusive curriculum; allowing them to progress and develop into creative, technical and imaginative thinkers. The children are able to learn about how

key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

The pupils are encouraged to foster enjoyment and see the purpose in product analysis, designing and creating products. Whilst also, being able to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others.

Similarly, children progress throughout each year group to be able to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

As a result of the resources readily available in school, children are encouraged to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product, whilst following safe procedures.

Children are able to apply a growing body of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make prototypes and products for a wide range of users across both key stages. They are exposed to technological vocabulary which allows them to develop confidence to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.