Design and Technology at Diamond Wood

We strive to create a learning atmosphere that celebrates achievement and fosters a love for Design and Technology, incorporating opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and reflection. Our pupils will be engrossed in opportunities to become young Designers, Sculptors, Engineers, Craft Makers, Bakers and Chefs.

At Diamond Wood Community Academy Design and Technology is valued greatly as part of our holistic curriculum. We are proud to currently hold the Silver Artsmark award. We are dedicated to enabling children to explore, design, make and evaluate their, D&T and Food Technology projects with the aim of supporting them to become independent learners as they progress on their learning journey. At Diamond Wood, we always strive for excellence within Design and Technology and aim to deliver this through our spiral curriculum.

Click here to read our full Design and Technology Vision and Intent statement.

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on
daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

National Curriculum 2014

Position Statement

We are constantly striving to improve our Design and Technology Curriculum in order to ensure our intended and implemented teaching and learning opportunities have the maximum impact upon pupil outcomes.

Click here to read our position statement and find out about our areas for development this year.

D&T Timetable

Here at Diamond Wood, we teach Design and Technology as a discrete subject in Years 1 and 2 (Key Stage 1). The pupils participate in weekly lessons during alternate half terms. When pupils are not engaged in a D&T unit of work they will be completing a Art, Craft and Design unit.

In Nursery and Reception (EYFS) pupils have at least three dedicated key worker sessions or inputs focusing specifically on D&T each half term. During each half term, additional opportunities for children to develop and consolidate their learning are provided during their continuous and enhanced provision time, both indoors and outdoors.

D&T Leader

Our Design and Technology Leader is Mrs Jagger. She is also a Year 1 teacher and is passionate about providing high quality Design and Technology learning experiences for all pupils.

If you would like to speak to Mrs Jagger, email office@diamondwoodacademy.co.uk and address the email to her specifically.

Our Approach

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we are committed to providing our pupils with a rich and balanced Design and Technology curriculum. To support this, we have chosen to invest in and implement Kapow's Scheme of Work for D&T.

The curriculum is carefully designed to be progressive, ensuring that each year's learning builds on and deepens the knowledge and skills acquired in previous years. This approach keeps the learning experience fun, engaging, and diverse for all our pupils.

Click here to read our rationale for adopting Kapow's D&T programme of study.

Design and Technology Policy

We have developed and produced a Design and Technology policy to ensure our values are applied consistently, define clear expectations, and help provide a framework for staff and pupils alike.

Please click here to view our Design and Technology Curriculum policy which has been updated for the academic year 2024-2025.

Statutory Requirements

The National Curriculum for Design and Technology sets out the statutory guidance for teaching Design and Technology to KS1 pupils. Our D&T curriculum has been designed to ensure children learn the required knowledge and skills set out by the National Curriculum for Design and Technology.

To view the statutory guidance for Design and Technology click here.

The Early Years Foundation Stage framework provides guidance for teachers focusing on developing children's 'expressive arts and design' skills within the Early Years (Nursery and Reception). The main areas for learning which are focused upon to provide the building blocks for future 'Design and Technology' learning are as follows;

Expressive Arts and Design
Communication and Language
Personal, Social and Emotional development
Physical Development

For more information on how these areas of learning have been built into our Design and Technology curriculum please see our progression map below.

Our Design and Technology Long Term Plan

Substantive and Disciplinary Concepts

To download this information as a document please click here.

Design and Technology Progression Map

Our Design and Technology curriculum progression map has been designed to show how we intend to teach our pupils the technical, disciplinary and vocabulary knowledge we aim for them to learn, know, remember and do by the end of their time with us here at Diamond Wood.

In designing this progression map we have consulted with our local feeder schools and settings in order to ensure our pupils experiences before and after coming to our school allow for progression of knowledge and skills to be built upon and continue.

The progression map allows all staff and key stakeholders in school to have a secure understanding of end of year expectations for all year groups.

In addition to using the progression map to guide teaching and learning, our design and technology subject leader creates half termly Medium Term Plans for all year groups. These plans clearly outline the sequence of teaching and learning which will take place during the particular unit of work (or planned opportunities in Nursery and Reception). This supports our educators in ensuring consistency in approach, opportunity and delivery across school, where we have four classes per year group.

The subject leader also creates and sources high quality resources which support the teaching and learning taking place. Our smartboard lesson aids provide additional planning notes and activity resources which can be accessed by any adults delivering lessons. This supports the continued professional development of our Educational Teaching Assistants, Cover Supervisors and also any supply teachers who work within school. Again, this ensures our high expectations are consistent across school at all times.

To view our Design and Technology curriculum progression map please click here.

Key Vocabulary

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we recognise the crucial role that vocabulary plays in pupils’ learning and academic success. As such, we have developed a vocabulary progression map for each subject curriculum to ensure that all our pupils have a strong foundation in subject-specific vocabulary.

Vocabulary is the foundation upon which pupils build their understanding of different subjects. Tier 3 words, which are subject-specific terms, play a particularly significant role in deepening pupils’ knowledge and enabling them to access complex concepts effectively. By explicitly teaching and reinforcing Tier 3 words within each subject, we aim to:

Enhance pupils’ comprehension and communication skills.
Enable pupils to express themselves accurately and confidently in subject-specific contexts.
Facilitate pupils’ ability to independently access and understand subject materials.
Support pupils’ critical thinking by developing their subject-specific knowledge and expertise.
Improve pupils’ overall academic performance and raise attainment levels.

To view our Design and Technology Key Vocabulary Glossary please click here.

Learn to speak like a Designer...

Key Text Spine

We have developed a key text spine for each curriculum area in our school to enhance the integration of reading into all aspects of our pupils' learning experiences. By carefully selecting texts that align with specific subjects, we support comprehension and retention while making connections between literature and the curriculum.

These key texts will either be introduced within units of work to reinforce learning objectives or recommended by teachers as enjoyable reads for pupils. Each classroom features a designated reading area where these texts are readily accessible, ensuring that children have opportunities to engage with them at least weekly.

Through this initiative, we aim to foster a love of reading, encourage exploration of diverse literature, and build a vibrant reading community that supports essential literacy skills and a lifelong passion for learning.

To view our Key Text Spine for Design and Technology click here.

Developing SMSC within our Design and Technology Curriculum

Diamond Wood Community Academy is dedicated to providing a design and technology curriculum that not only develops pupils’ knowledge and skills but also nurtures their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. By integrating SMSC within our design and technology lessons, we strive to create well-rounded individuals who are equipped with the skills and values necessary to succeed in life and contribute positively to society. We recognise the importance of SMSC development in promoting the holistic growth of our pupils. We aim to create a learning environment that fosters a sense of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking while promoting values such as respect, empathy, and responsibility.

Developing British Values within our Design and Technology Curriculum

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we are committed to promoting the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance within our design and technology curriculum for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1). Our curriculum is designed to ensure that these values are embedded into the teaching and learning experiences of our pupils, preparing them to become responsible citizens in modern Britain. The promotion of British values within the design and technology curriculum will be integrated into lesson planning, teaching resources, and classroom discussions. The subject leader and teaching staff will ensure that the curriculum reflects the values and that pupils' understanding is consistently developed and reinforced. Regular monitoring and reflection will take place to ensure the effective promotion and integration of British values within the design and technology curriculum.

Developing the Protected Characteristics

within our Design and Technology Curriculum

At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we believe in promoting an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and respects the protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to ensuring that our Design and Technology curriculum supports the development of these protected characteristics for our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage One pupils. The table below outlines our approach to incorporating and promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion within our Design and Technology curriculum.