Intent

At Emsworth Primary our Design and Technology curriculum ensures that pupils use creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Through their study of D&T pupils acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. At Emsworth we encourage our pupils to take risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.  Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, pupils at Emsworth develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

Through our curriculum children learn key skills in each unit of D&T taught which they develop throughout the school. The units for both Key Stages are as follows structure, mechanisms/mechanical systems, cooking/nutrition, textiles. In Key Stage 2 they also have the units digital world and electrical systems.

Within each of the units that we teach in our Design and Technology curriculum there are four objectives that we cover:

1: Design

2:  Make

3: Evaluate

4: Technical Knowledge

This allows us to ensure that the children are making the necessary progression of skills in each year group and guarantees consistency throughout the school.

It is imperative that children are excited and engaged with their learning and at Emsworth Primary we aim to give our pupils the freedom to explore working with different materials and methods. We ensure that the pupils look at their D&T projects in a range of relevant contexts for example, within the school, the wider community, industry and the wider environment.

Implementation 

At Emsworth we follow the National Curriculum through the schemes of work provided by the Kapow planning. Children are taught DT every half-term covering all of the key strands: textiles, mechanisms, structures, food, electrical systems and digital world (Key Stage 2 only).

Children follow a clear design process of design, make and evaluate. Alongside this, they develop practical skills and their technical knowledge. Each unit provides a reason for designing and making products which must be for someone and for a particular purpose.

Pupils are also taught health and safety issues relating to each of the tasks at the beginning of the unit and when new skills are introduced. Learning is delivered weekly or blocked.

Learning objectives are expected to be clearly presented at the start of each unit, with the date each objective has been covered recorded as the unit progresses.

Evidence of each lesson is expected to be present. This could take a variety of forms including designs, worksheets, prototypes, photographs, class discussion notes or evaluations.

Where children have needed additional support or if assessment for learning has highlighted a misconception, this must be recorded on that child’s work.

Impact

The Design and Technology curriculum allows children to:

• Understand the functional and aesthetic properties of a range of materials and resources.
• Understand how to use and combine tools to carry out different processes for shaping, decorating, and manufacturing products.
• Build and apply a repertoire of skills, knowledge and understanding to produce high quality, innovative outcomes, including models, prototypes, CAD, and products to fulfil the needs of users, clients, and scenarios.
• Understand and apply the principles of healthy eating, diets, and recipes, including key processes, food groups and cooking equipment.
• Have an appreciation for key individuals, inventions, and events in history and of today that impact our world.
• Recognise where our decisions can impact the wider world in terms of community, social and environmental issues.
• Self-evaluate and reflect on learning at different stages and identify areas to improve.
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Design and technology.

The impact of Kapow Primary’s scheme at Emsworth can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. Furthermore, each unit has a unit quiz and knowledge catcher which can be used at the start and/ or end of the unit. After the implementation of Kapow Primary Design and technology, pupils should leave school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be innovative and resourceful members of society. 

The whole school curriculum map is as follows: