We are Designers

Intent:
At our school, we want our children to feel like real designers, engineers, and problem-solvers. Through Design and Technology, we aim to spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and develop practical skills that help children understand how things work and how they are made. We want them to feel confident turning ideas into real products – to explore, make, test, and improve – and to learn that making mistakes is an important part of the design process. Most of all, we want our children to feel proud of what they create and to understand that design is all around them, every day.

Implementation:
DT is taught through meaningful, hands-on projects that link closely to real-life problems and contexts. From their earliest experiences in EYFS – building with blocks, junk modelling, or experimenting with tools – children begin to explore how materials can be used and shaped. As they move through school, they learn key skills such as cutting, joining, measuring, sewing, and using mechanisms, all while following the design process: research, plan, make and evaluate. Cooking and nutrition also play a key role, with children learning to prepare simple dishes and understand the importance of healthy eating. Each unit builds on the last, helping children grow in independence, skill, and creative thinking.

Impact:
By the time they leave us, our children can think like designers – asking thoughtful questions, solving problems with creativity, and showing care and attention to detail in their work. They take pride in making things with their own hands and love seeing their ideas come to life. DT helps our children become more resourceful, resilient and reflective, and gives them the confidence to tackle challenges with imagination and determination. We see not just finished products, but children who are excited by the process of designing and making – and who believe that their ideas can make a difference.