Intent

At Knowle Park Primary School, Design and Technology is an inspiring, creative and practical subject that enthuses and motivates all learners.  Children at our school are not afraid to take risks and enjoy ‘learning through doing’ with a hands-on approach. 

We encourage children to be imaginative whilst designing and making purposeful products that solve real and relevant problems. We believe it is vital that all children have the opportunity to use a variety of tools, equipment and techniques that enables them to gain practical skills they can use confidently throughout their life. Local people and places are used to inspire our designs and builds and our sustainable approach to D&T supports children to be mindful when resourcing and disposing of materials.

The way we teach food technology topics gives children the opportunity to learn about a diverse range of cultures and experience food from around the world. Our high-quality lessons are closely linked to other areas of the curriculum such as mathematics and science to provide an enriched learning experience. Evaluation is a fundamental part of the design process and we encourage children to adapt and improve their products, helping them to become innovative and resilient learners who positively learn through making mistakes.

Implementation

Every DT unit should have: 

• A front cover which will include:
  • The focus of the unit.
  • The KPPS logo.
  • Significant people linked to that unit (BAME/Designers)
  • Local links.
  • All visitors, trips or workshops for that unit.
  • Eco links for that unit.
  • Reading material or cross-curricular links for that unit.

• A knowledge organiser:
  • The KPPS logo.
  • An explanation of the main focus skill.
  • Links to designers
  • Skills to be taught over the unit.
  • Vocabulary.
  • Making and evaluating.
  • Safety.

Planning Sequence:

Lesson 1 – Hook and review previous learning of the unit skill. Introduce Knowledge organiser and front cover.

Lesson 2 –Links and designer appreciation. Ask questions. Share Vocabulary.

Lesson 3 – Oracy/vocabulary/review. Safety. Teach and practise skills.

Lesson 4 – Oracy/vocabulary/review.  Safety. Teach and practise skills

Lesson 5 – Oracy/vocabulary./review Safety. Teach and practise skills. Plan final piece

Lesson 6 – Oracy/vocabulary. Make and evaluate.

Every lesson will have:

• Oracy starters. Look at a wide range of designers, foods examples (cars, flight..) to discuss, compare and evaluate.
• Health and safety posters and discussions
• Recap prior learning from the previous lesson and previous units.
• Weekly recap vocabulary from the unit.
• Plenty of discussion and higher order thinking.
• Lots of questioning- evaluating, analysing, describing, relating and interpreting.

All DT folders will have:

• The knowledge organiser
• The front cover
• Each page dated and with a title of lesson focus/skill.
• Examples of designers work and questioning
• Skills examples
• Final pieces.
• Photographs of children using skills
• Plan of the final piece and evaluation

All teachers will:

• Refer to the front cover and KO during every lesson.
• Ensure the children understand about safety when using tools
• Ask for support if they are unsure of a skill being taught.
• Ensure the resources used and purchased are sustainable.
• Provide a risk assessment for the use of all tools.

Impact

The children at KPPS will:

• be resilient learners, who demonstrate a ‘Growth Mindset’ approach when responding to mistakes and adapting their work throughout the D&T process.
• apply their knowledge of tools and skills to other aspects of the curriculum and to their life outside of school.
• As confident designers and makers, children will draw on the appropriate skills and knowledge developed in other subjects and apply them to their D&T lessons, for example mathematics and science, 
• The majority of children will be working at age related expectations in D&T and will be equipped with life long skills that they take into adulthood.