Design and Technology
Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject which enables children to learn, think and intervene creatively to solve problems both as individuals and as members of a team. At Chestnuts, we encourage our children to use their creativity and imagination to design, make and evaluate products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. At Chestnuts, we have high aspirations for all learners; ensuring scaffolding is available to support learning further for those that need it.
Design and technology forms part of our cross curricular topics and, as a result, we aim to link the work the children undertake to other curriculum areas such as maths, science and art and design. They are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present design technology, its uses, and its effectiveness; they are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers. As we understand the science of learning, we have designed our curriculum to allow the children to build on prior learning and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users. Each year, children will show a clear progression in knowledge, built on previous learning. The journey begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage through the strand of ‘Understanding of the World’ where, for example, the children explore and evaluate how things such as wind-up toys, pulleys and cogs work. As they move into Key Stage One, they begin to use mechanisms in their own products, for example using wheels and axles to build their own moving vehicles. Then, in Key Stage Two, the children learn to use mechanisms in more complex systems such as using cams to create toys with moving parts.
Our aim is to ensure all children leave Chestnuts ready to enter secondary education with the relevant knowledge and experiences they need to empower them to have the confidence to continue their learning.
Through a variety of creative and practical activities, we teach the knowledge and skills the children need to engage in the interactive process of designing, making and evaluating a range of different products. Our children explore the ideas of key designers and engineers and how these people have influenced our modern world.