DT
Vision and Intent
The aim at St Thomas is provide opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident, resilient and successful life-long learners. Through the implemantation of a board and balanced curriculum, we aim for our children to have high aspirations and to make an active and positive contribution to their school, community and wider society; now and in the future. We want our children to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to be able to keep themselves safe and healthy both physically and mentally.
Design and Technology (D&T) at St Thomas introduces our young learners to the world of creative problem-solving, practical making skills, and critical thinking. It combines elements of art, science, engineering, and mathematics to help children understand how products are designed and made, and empowers them to design and make their own. We celebrate our learners' unique ideas across the year groups and give them the opportunity to design, plan, make and evaluate across different topics. Our Design and Technology lessons give our learners the opportunity to build their own independence, creativity and problem-solving skills.
DT-Sample-of-Component-and-Composite-Knowledge-Overview.docx
Our Curriculum Journey
The Whole Curriculum at St Thomas is structured to promote and exploit opportunities to make sure new learning is committed to long term memory.
Our Design and Technology curriculum is 'spiral curriculum' where concepts are regularly revisited to ensure that meaningful connections are made. The children are taught the same concepts each year where prior learning is used as a foundation for new learning which is subsequently well developed. Prior learning is referenced throughout the programme of study and our learners become very familiar with content and structure.
Teachers use knowledge organisers to assess what learning has taken place in Design and Technology. Questions will not only cover what has been taught in the lesson, but will also assess what pupils can retrieve from learning in their previous year groups and Key Stage.
Design & Technology Long Term Plan
Early Years
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework is structured very differently to the national curriculum. The framework is structured across 7 areas of learning rather than into specific subject areas. To begin a child's Design and Technology journey we lay the foundations in EYFS starting with building confidence, independence, resilience, teamwork skills and fine motor skills. We encourage children to use their imagination, make discoveries independently and also work together with their peers to learn something new. We achieve this with engaging and exciting topics that spark curiousity. Nursery and Reception complete the same topics to ensure learners can build foundations for new learning and to build on prior knowledge.
Key Stage One
Lower Key Stage Two
Upper Key Stage Two
