At Fern House School, our Design and Technology curriculum is designed to ignite pupils' creativity and develop their practical skills through engaging, hands-on experiences. We believe that DT empowers pupils to become innovative thinkers and effective problem-solvers, equipping them with valuable skills applicable across all areas of their lives.

Our curriculum focusses on the progression of skills and knowledge, building from foundational concepts in early steps to more complex applications. Pupils will explore:

• Mechanisms: From understanding basic sliders and movements in storybooks to constructing windmills and designing fairground wheels, pupils will learn how different components fit together to create functional systems.
• Healthy Eating: Through practical activities, pupils will learn about identifying fruits and vegetables, making healthy food choices, designing packaging, and adapting recipes to be healthier while considering ethical considerations.
• Joining and Sewing: Pupils will develop their technical skills in cutting, glueing, stapling, and pinning while creating hand puppets and exploring different ways of joining fabrics.
• Electrical Systems: Building on their knowledge of circuits, pupils will investigate static electricity, create simple games, and design electronic greeting cards incorporating series circuits.
• Mechanical Systems: Pupils will transform various materials into moving vehicles, focusing on chassis design, launch mechanisms, and the principles of kinetic energy.

Throughout the DT curriculum, pupils will engage in a design process that includes exploring existing products, designing their own, constructing models, and testing and evaluating their creations. Key vocabulary such as "design," "criteria," "mechanism," "structure," "assemble," "evaluate," "component," and "innovative" will be consistently taught and reinforced across topics.

We emphasise cross-curricular links, connecting DT with science, history, and geography, to provide a holistic and meaningful learning experience. For example, pupils will explore why houses are made of brick in conjunction with structural design, or consider the impact of human activity on the environment while designing products. This approach not only motivates pupils but also strengthens their ability to make connections and consolidate learnt concepts, fostering confident and reflective learners.