Design & Technology

At Newton Farm, we value Design and Technology as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum that is progressive and builds on previous learning. We believe Design and Technology is a subject that encourages children to think creatively and critically. Through a process of research, planning, making and evaluating, children apply their learning to solving a meaningful real-world task. Cooking and nutrition projects teach children how to prepare a range of healthy foods, as well as learning where food comes from and when it grows.

At Newton Farm, we have a specialist Design and Technology teacher who offers lessons to children from Year 1 through to Year 6. Our clear and carefully designed comprehensive scheme of work, is in line with the National Curriculum.

Key Stage Breakdown

At EYFS, children begin to use the language of designing and making, e.g. join, build and shape. They learn to construct with a purpose in mind and selects tools and techniques needed to shape, assemble and join materials. Children learn how to use a range of tools, e.g. scissors, hole punch, stapler, woodworking tools, rolling pins, pastry cutters.

In Key Stage 1, children learn how to think imaginatively and talk about what they like and dislike when designing and making. They explore how familiar things work and talk about, draw and model their ideas. They learn how to design and make safely and start to use ICT as part of their designing and making. By the end of Year 2 they will have used a variety of skills, which include cooking and food hygiene, working with textiles and mechanical components. Children design and make playgrounds and puppets.  

In Key Stage 2 children work on their own and as part of a team on a range of designing and making activities. They think about what products are used for and the needs of the people who use them. They plan what has to be done and identify what works well and what could be improved in their own and other people’s designs. They draw on their knowledge and understanding from other areas of the curriculum and use Design and Technology in a range of ways. Children design and make photo frames, greenhouses and birdhouses.  

Our curriculum for this subject is based on the Newton Farm School scheme of work.