Design and Technology
At The Willows Primary School, design and technology is fully inclusive for every child. DT is taught discretely but forms part of our cross-curricular learning through topic work. We also use ‘Projectson a Page’ from the DT Association to further enhance and support our teaching and learning. Through our DT curriculum, different skills such as textiles, food and nutrition and technical knowledge are covered. We fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for design and technology, by providing a broad and balanced curriculum which ensures there is a progressive approach to the acquisition of knowledge and skills. We encourage our pupils to become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens through exciting and interactive learning opportunities adapted to meet the needs of our contact and learners. As our children progress through school, they develop a critical understanding of the impact DT has on daily life and the wider world and we aim to inspire our pupils to become the engineers, designers, chefs and architects of the future, by exposing them to opportunities with a real-life purpose.
The aims of teaching design and technology in our school are built around the National Curriculum
and include:
• Developing creative, technical and imaginative thinking in children and to develop
confidence to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
• Enabling children to talk about how things work, develop their technical knowledge, apply a
growing body of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make
prototypes and products for a wide range of users,
• Encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product,
whilst following safe procedures and develop an understanding of technological processes
and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society,
• Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others,
• Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and to learn how to cook,
• Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the
world.