Design and Technology at Fairmeadows 

Design and technology is an intricate part of our day to day lives and it is therefore important that our children are taught how this subject is of great importance in our rapidly changing world.

Intent: 

Children are encouraged to think creatively in order to solve problems and/or make improvements to existing ideas and products.  Design and Technology gives students the opportunity to work and think both as individuals and as part of a team, which helps them develop and learn while demonstrating our learning powers at Fairmeadows. Design and Technology is an creative, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design, make and evaluate products that solve real and relevant problems.

Implementation:

Design Technology is taught from Year 1 to Year 6.  These lessons are taught in blocks (one topic per week), this gives the children more time to develop key skills and enhance their learning.

At Fairmeadows we follow Chris Quigley's Essentials curriculum for Design & Technology. 

Our planning is progressive and skills are revisited from Year 1 through to Year 6 to ensure that children have a deeper understanding of Design and Technology techniques, vocabulary and concepts.

Our Curriculum and Threshold Concepts

Master practical skills

This concept involves developing the skills needed to make high quality products.

Design, make, evaluate and improve

 This concept involves developing the process of design thinking and seeing design as a process.

Take inspiration from design throughout history

This concept involves appreciating the design process that has influenced the products we use in everyday life

DT at home 

There are a few ways in which you can support your child with their Design and Technology learning:

• Talk about design in the world around you.  What is the product? What is the product’s purpose?  Who is the intended user? Which features make it a successful design?  How would you improve this design?
• Ask your child about their Design and Technology learning.  Your child will have lots to tell you! 
• Encourage your child to design and make things at home!  Remember to celebrate the ‘break’ stage in the design process; the stage where your child evaluates and changes their design to improve it, like all good designers do!  Please take photos of their creations and post them on your child’s Seesaw so their work can be celebrated by staff and their peers in school.