"Learning together we can reach for the stars"
Design and Technology
Design and Technology at Race Leys
At Race Leys Infant School, our Design and Technology curriculum aims to spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving in all children. Aligned with the KS1 National Curriculum, we provide practical, hands-on experiences where pupils design, make, and evaluate purposeful products using a range of tools and materials. We strongly believe that Design and Technology develops children’s resilience and ability to come back with new options to try.
We are committed to inclusivity, ensuring all children – regardless of background or ability – can access, enjoy, and succeed in D&T. We adapt our approach to meet diverse needs, celebrate individuality, and provide meaningful learning for everyone.
Our curriculum promotes real-life links, and cross-curricular learning, helping children understand the world around them. Through wider opportunities such as after school clubs and enrichment activities, we raise aspirations and broaden horizons for all.
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Curriculum
As part of the Design and Technology curriculum, children will develop their skills of designing, making and evaluating products. This will follow the process of:
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Evaluating existing products
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Skills acquisition
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Design
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Make
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Evaluate own product
They will develop their technical knowledge of structures, mechanisms and textiles. Cooking is also a key part of the Design and Technology curriculum and the children will have the opportunity to plan, prepare and cook a variety of dishes developing important life skills for the future. We aim to create an exciting and engaging Design and Technology curriculum to encourage resilient and reflective learners.
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Reception
In Reception, D&T links to the Early Learning Goals called ‘Expressive Arts and Design’ and ‘Understanding of the World.’ Children are provided with opportunities to solve problems, explore products, experiment, design, make and evaluate in a variety of contexts. Children are offered opportunities to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through design and technology.
Our curriculum helps children meet learning opportunities within an engaging and interesting environment through practical activity, enquiry and purposeful play, with consolidation through practice, talk and reflection. With support, Reception children will learn to evaluate existing products, design, make and evaluate their products. They will make sandwiches and fruit kebabs, junk model and make a minibeast home.
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Key Stage One
In Key Stage One, DT is covered through the DT National Curriculum. It aims to ensure all children:
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develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
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build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality products for a wide range of users
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critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
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understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook
At Race Leys, our children learn how to:
Evaluate existing products
•look at existing products to evaluate their strengths and areas for development
•spark new ideas
Skills acquisition
•use a range of tools and techniques
•learn and practice skills such as cutting, joining, mixing
Design
•design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
•generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, and, where appropriate, information and communication technology
Make
•select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks
•select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics
Evaluate
•explore and evaluate a range of existing products
•evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria technical knowledge
•build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
•explore and use mechanisms in their products.
