Design & Technology
Design and Technology in Our Federation: Be the Light – Create, Innovate, Inspire
Design and Technology in our Federation is an exciting and practical journey that encourages pupils to explore, create, and problem-solve from the very start of their education. In the EYFS, children engage with a range of materials and simple tools, learning to experiment, make choices, and develop early design skills. Activities such as constructing with blocks, junk modelling, or using natural materials foster creativity, independence, and hands-on learning.
As pupils progress through school, their D&T knowledge, skills, and techniques become more sophisticated. The curriculum is carefully structured to ensure children revisit and build upon key concepts, including designing, making, evaluating, and improving products. They learn to work with an increasingly wide range of materials and tools, exploring areas such as textiles, mechanisms, structures, food technology, and digital design. Pupils develop practical problem-solving skills, innovation, and resilience, gaining confidence in turning ideas into tangible creations.
Our D&T curriculum is deeply connected to other areas of learning. Cross-curricular links allow children to:
-
Develop enterprise and entrepreneurial skills in PSHE, designing products or solutions that address real-life challenges.
-
Engage with the natural world in Forest School sessions, using natural materials to explore sustainable design, creative problem-solving, and environmental awareness.
-
Explore global cultures through cooking, linking to our Global Spotlight weeks and geography learning. Pupils investigate ingredients, recipes, and culinary traditions from around the world, creating dishes that broaden their understanding of different cultures and inspire creativity beyond the classroom.
-
Integrate knowledge from other subjects, such as applying geometry from mathematics to structures, or inspiration from history and art to inform their designs.
Pupils are encouraged to see themselves as designers and innovators. They are given opportunities to share and celebrate their work through exhibitions, classroom showcases, and community events, fostering pride, confidence, and an understanding of the impact their designs can have on others.
Throughout their journey, children learn not only how to make but also how to think critically and evaluate their designs. They develop the ability to reflect on their own and others’ work, building vocabulary, technical understanding, and a sense of identity as creative problem-solvers.
Our D&T curriculum aims to nurture imaginative, thoughtful, and courageous designers. We encourage children to explore, experiment, and innovate, empowering them to create, inspire, and make a meaningful impact on the world around them.
Subject Overview
DT overview (1)Progression
design technology PROGRESSION map 23