Art and democracy are important drivers within our DT curriculum. Children are supported to extend their skills and self – confidence. They are finding their own voice through a range of cross curricular experiences linked to Kagan topics which challenge them to develop their creativity. Children like making decisions for themselves and doing practical work. They love creating products they can see, touch – and even taste – for themselves. They are encouraged to be creative and innovative, and are actively encouraged to think about important issues such as sustainability and enterprise. Design and Technology is an area of the curriculum concerned with self-expression. It can be a very liberating experience of self-actualisation. Within DT there are several elements such as visual communication, the use of digital imagery and manipulation, the production of 3D objects, experimentation with materials etc. Various DT projects are completed within school that link with cultural and arts projects for example lantern making where parents got involved and a parade was organised by Tameside. Sports and Health Week, planning and preparing healthy meals. This links to specific RE topics making bread at Harvest time, tasting Chinese food and also linking to ECO/Gardening and working with the local community to maintain vegetable patches in each key stage area. During Christmas time various products are created including food items which are then sold, encouraging collective enterprise. The children design and make ‘something’ for ‘somebody’ for ‘some purpose’.
The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world.
- Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users.
- Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.
- Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.
