Subjects

Intent: Our DT curriculum will enable children to design, make and evaluate functional products with users and purposes in mind.

D&T essentials

Projects on a Page is based on the six essentials of good practice in D&T. They are consistent with the National Curriculum requirements and should be applied whenever children are designing and making products:

• User – children should have a clear idea of who they are designing and making products for, considering their needs, wants, interests or preferences. The user could be themselves, an imaginary character, another person, client, consumer or a specific target audience.
• • Purpose – children should know what the products they design and make are for. Each product should perform a clearly defined task that can be evaluated in use.
• • Functionality – children should design and make products that function in some way to be successful. Products often combine aesthetic qualities with functional characteristics. In D&T, it is insufficient for children to design and make products which are purely aesthetic.
• • Design Decisions – when designing and making, children need opportunities to make informed decisions such as selecting materials, components and techniques and deciding what form the products will take, how they will work, what task they will perform and who they are for.
• Innovation – when designing and making, children need some scope to be original with their thinking. Projects that encourage innovation lead to a range of design ideas and products being developed, characterised by engaging, open-ended starting points for children's learning.
• • Authenticity – children should design and make products that are believable, real and meaningful to themselves i.e. not replicas or reproductions or models which do not provide opportunities for children to make design decisions.

Process and breadth

At the heart of Projects on a Page is the designing and making process in the programmes of study. The scheme of work ensures children design, make and evaluate products using the broad range of materials and components specified in the statutory requirements. These include construction materials, textiles, food, mechanical components and, in Key Stage 2 only, electrical components. Each Project Planner lists a range of possible resources to use including tools, equipment and materials which are adapted as appropriate. This ensures health and safety policy and guidance.

Coverage and progression

• Projects on a Page provides progression and coverage of the NC programmes of study for KS1 and KS2.

Assessment: Assessment in DT focusses on understanding and  communication NOT JUST Practical outcomes. Children are assessed using assessment grids with ‘I can…’ statements against Design Make Evaluate Knowledge (DMEK) (+Food and nutrition) aspects to ensure progression in these areas through the Key stages.

Children use sketch books to record design drawings, have ongoing conversations with their peers and teachers to demonstrate knowledge and use tools and equipment. There is a strong emphasis on technical vocabulary and its use.