Design & Technology
Design & Technology
At Coltishall Primary School, Design & Technology is about designing and making things that are useful.
We want children to use creativity, practical knowledge and problem-solving to respond to real and relevant needs. Pupils learn to think as designers: considering who something is for, what it needs to do, how it could be made and how well the finished product works.
Our 3S Approach
Every Design & Technology project at Coltishall is planned around our 3S:
Something – children have an opportunity to design and make something.
Somebody – children think carefully about who the product is for, what that person or group needs and how their design can respond to those needs.
Some purpose – children understand why they are designing and making the product and what it needs to achieve.
This gives children a clear reason for designing and helps ensure that DT is purposeful rather than simply making for the sake of making.
Our Approach
Children develop their knowledge and skills through the connected process of designing, making and evaluating.
They learn to:
investigate and evaluate existing products;
identify a user, need and purpose;
generate and communicate design ideas;
select appropriate tools, materials and components;
develop practical skills with increasing accuracy and control;
test whether their product works successfully;
evaluate what works well and identify improvements.
Children have opportunities to work independently and collaboratively, listening to the ideas of others and explaining their own design decisions.
Progression
Our DT curriculum is carefully sequenced so that children build on previous knowledge, skills and experience.
Knowledge Organisers help make prior learning explicit and support children in making connections between what they have learned before and the demands of each new project.
As pupils move through the school, they are expected to make increasingly informed decisions about users, purpose, materials, structures, mechanisms and construction, and to work with greater independence and precision.
DT Beyond the Classroom
Children have regular opportunities to apply their DT knowledge and practical skills beyond individual classroom projects.
DT is also developed through Outdoor Learning, where pupils can apply design, construction and problem-solving skills in a different context.
During the summer term, children take part in a dedicated period of DT work, giving them opportunities to undertake larger projects, further develop their practical skills and celebrate their learning.
Cooking and Nutrition
Cooking and nutrition are an important part of Design & Technology.
Children learn about healthy eating and develop practical food-preparation and cooking skills.
They also develop an understanding of ingredients, where food comes from and how food products can be designed and made for a particular user and purpose.
Design & Technology in the Early Years
In Reception, children begin developing the foundations of Design & Technology through practical exploration, construction and problem-solving.
They investigate how things work, use a range of materials and tools, develop making skills and learn to handle equipment safely and with increasing control.
Children have opportunities to practise these skills through indoor and outdoor provision, including the woodwork area in the Cherry courtyard and Outdoor Learning.
These experiences encourage exploration, observation, discussion, critical thinking and curiosity, providing strong foundations for later learning in Design & Technology.
Recording Learning
Children use their DT and Art books to document their learning journey.
These books capture the development of ideas, design thinking, practical work and evaluation, helping children and teachers see how knowledge and skills build over time.
