Intent

At our school, Design and Technology enables children to become creative, independent thinkers who can design, make and refine purposeful products. Using the Grammarsaurus Design & Technology scheme, our curriculum builds pupils’ competence across researching, designing, making, evaluating and technical knowledge, while ensuring that skills progress clearly from EYFS to Year 6. We aim for children to understand materials, mechanisms, structures, textiles, electrical systems and food technology so they can apply these confidently and purposefully. Our intention is that all pupils learn to make informed choices as designers, consider the user and purpose of their products, and develop resilience, problem-solving abilities and a willingness to improve their ideas. By the time children leave us, they are equipped with the skills, vocabulary and knowledge to design and make high-quality products and to talk confidently about the processes they have used.

Implementation

Our DT curriculum is carefully sequenced and taught through the Grammarsaurus DT scheme, ensuring learning is progressive, practical and engaging.

How we teach DT:

• In EYFS, children:

  • explore tools, materials and construction through play

  • begin to design with purpose

  • talk about what they have made

  • develop early technical vocabulary

• In Key Stage 1 and 2, each year group completes three projects (Cooking & Nutrition, Textiles and Construction), each following the DT cycle of:

  • Researching – exploring examples, materials and real products

  • Designing – drawing plans, choosing tools and materials, setting criteria

  • Making – applying skills, following instructions and using tools safely

  • Evaluating – reflecting on function, appearance and improvements

  • Technical Knowledge – learning about mechanisms, structures, circuits, stitching, joining methods or food preparation techniques

Skills & Vocabulary Progression

• We use the Grammarsaurus DT Skills Progression to ensure knowledge and skills build systematically across year groups.

• Children are taught technical vocabulary explicitly, supported by the Grammarsaurus Vocabulary Progression, enabling them to talk with increasing confidence and accuracy.

• Key terminology is revisited frequently so children can describe processes, mechanisms and materials clearly.

Enrichment & Cross-Curricular Links

• DT projects link meaningfully with subjects such as history, science, geography and art.

• Children learn about real designers, engineers, chefs and craftspeople to help them understand the relevance of DT in the world.

• Cooking and nutrition units emphasise hygiene, healthy eating and safe food preparation.

Impact

The impact of our Design & Technology curriculum is that pupils develop strong practical skills and increasing confidence in selecting and using tools safely and accurately. They understand and can articulate the full design process, explaining their choices and evaluating outcomes using appropriate technical vocabulary. Children produce high-quality products that meet design briefs and show clear progress in creativity, resilience and problem-solving as they refine and improve their work. They also develop a secure understanding of healthy eating and food preparation, applying hygienic and safe practices. Overall, pupils leave our school well prepared for future learning, having experienced a rich, ambitious and engaging DT curriculum that fosters independence, curiosity and a designer’s mindset.