Design & Technology

Intent

At Nutley CE primary, using creativity and imagination, children design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Children learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative and enterprising.

Children are also taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating.

Implementation

A series of design and technology lessons are taught at least three times a year which link to the term’s learning journey. Teachers use our progression map to plan lessons that not only ensure that children are building on skills and knowledge, but also provide experience and further challenge in a variety of design and technology areas. Children are encouraged to work independently and collaboratively and to design, make and evaluate their own works.

Every other year, the children in KS2 engage in a local competition – Uckfield Lions’ ROAR Project - where they work in groups to create an innovative idea that will help solve a real-life problem in society. They create their own poster, advertisement and jingle, and also make a model prototype of their idea. They finally work as a team to present their entrepreneurial design to others.

Expectations:

Year 1 and 2:

design products for themselves and other users based on design criteria and then communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates and models
make products, using a range of tools and selecting from a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients
explore and evaluate a range of existing products
evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
develop technical knowledge by building structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products
use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to prepare dishes
understand where food comes from

Year 3 and 4:

use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
investigate and analyse a range of existing products
evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages]
understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques
understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

Year 5 and 6:

use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design
select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities
investigate and analyse a range of existing products
evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work
understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world
apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages]
understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products
understand and apply the principles of a healthy and varied diet
prepare and cook a variety of predominantly savoury dishes using a range of cooking techniques
understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.

Impact

At Nutley CE Primary, we expect our children to see themselves as the innovators of the future who will create useful products that will positively make a difference to people’s lives. We aim to provide them with the skills and knowledge to confidently transition to secondary school where we hope they pursue their studies with enjoyment. We expect our children to develop resilience to problem solving and learn from their mistakes as they develop their products.

We believe that cooking, as well as being enjoyable and creative, is a crucial life skill that enables children to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.

Click here to view the Design & Technology Progression