How we teach Design & Technology:

At Ellen Wilkinson Primary school we teach our children to use their creativity to research and design purposeful functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria. We support them by providing them with the technical knowledge needed, to aid them in using and applying the skills they have learned. In our Design and Technology lessons children begin by designing a product based on set criteria. They are then provided with a range of materials and opportunities to practise and learn practical skills to support them in making their product. Upon completion children evaluate their product against their design and its overall effectiveness.

How we ensure access for all:

We encourage all of our learners to do their very best and to enable this we provide our children with the skills, experiences and knowledge to become talented in design and technology.  We spend time in our classes offering children opportunities to enhance their skills to support them in making a product. The design, make and evaluate process allows all children to access DT at Ellen Wilkinson. It gives them the platform to use their own creative ideas to produce a design for a product; they are then able to use the skills they have developed to make their product and are then provided opportunities to evaluate verbally and in writing.

How we develop cultural capital:

Cultural capital provides children with a varied and broad curriculum, which prepares them for the world.  EWPS ensures that we provide our children with learning opportunities and experiences that enable them to succeed academically and engage in wider society. In our DT lessons children are given examples of inventions from different time periods and inventors to support them in their lessons.

To support children's, understanding, knowledge and skills they are given access to a wide range of tools and resources to support them in creating purposeful products. Our school celebrates DT across year groups in our learning fares, which take place every quarter. In these learning fares children get the opportunity to experience DT from a different year group.

How we know your child is succeeding:

• Through pupil discussion, learners will talk enthusiastically  about their own and other pupils work.
• Observations are made of sketch books and completed products that show a progression of skills and likeness in outcome.
• Determine the effectiveness and how well a product meets its purpose.
• Learners discuss and critique their own product as well as the work of  other inventors.
• Pupils inventions are displayed and celebrated  at Ellen Wilkinson, and the  wider community

How you can support your child:

• Encourage your child to take part in DT activities at home such as creating storage for their stationary.
• Discuss  global and European inventors and how they have influenced others 
• Support your child with Home Learning Projects to further enhance their creative and practical skills.

Subject Leader 
Sudha Sreedharan
artanddt@ellenwilkinson.newham.sch.uk