Implementation of Design & Technology at Esh Winning

Within our Early Years Curriculum children are taught to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music and dance. They recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. Children learn to select and use technology for particular purposes. They learn about similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things.  

In Key Stages 1 & 2 children are taught three units per year. Each unit of learning starts with children investigating and analysing a range of products against criteria.  They will then design purposeful products by generating drawings, annotated sketches, templates, prototypes and mock ups.  Using a range of tools and equipment, children build on skills in each year group to perform practical tasks. Once children have made a purposeful product they will evaluate their products. 

One unit will focus on cooking and nutrition where children will understand the basic principles of the topic.  They will  build on skills learnt through previous teaching. In Key Stage 1, children will understand where food comes from and in Key Stage 2 they will understand seasonality, and know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed. 

 The curriculum lead attends Design Technology Network meetings to stay abreast of regional and national good practice. This information is shared through staff meetings and supporting documents.