Design & Technology
‘Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design.’ Stephen Gardiner, Architect
At Mossgate, we aim to inspire the next generation of designers who will use their creativity to make a positive impact on the world. Design and Technology is taught in a fun, hands-on and challenging way, encouraging children to use their imagination to design and make products that solve real-life problems.
Our pupils learn to think about both their own needs and the needs of others when designing and making products. Through Design & Technology, they take creative risks, solve problems and develop practical skills, becoming confident, resourceful and innovative learners who are ready to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
What does Design and Technology look like for our youngest learners in Little Saplings Nursery and Reception?
Our youngest learners are building the foundations of Design and Technology through hands-on exploration and creativity. They create with a wide range of materials, freely exploring their properties and developing ideas about how to use them and what to make. Children learn to join different materials and bring their imaginations to life by constructing complex objects and small worlds using blocks and construction kits.
Alongside this, children are encouraged to build early foundations in cooking and nutrition through active involvement in snack time. They prepare their own snacks by washing, cutting and preparing food, and learn to safely use tools such as a knife to butter their own bread. These meaningful, practical experiences promote independence, fine motor skills and healthy habits, helping children to be well prepared for the next stage of their learning.
What does our Design and Technology curriculum look like at Mossgate in Years 1–6?
At Mossgate, our Design and Technology curriculum is built around the core process of designing, making and evaluating. This ensures that children develop practical skills and creativity as they work with a wide range of materials and components to create purposeful products.
Our D&T curriculum is organised into the following key strands:
Structures
Textiles
Cooking and Nutrition
Mechanical Systems
Electrical Systems (Key Stage 2 only)
These strands are revisited throughout the primary phases, allowing children to build on their knowledge, understanding and practical skills as they progress through the school.
How do we teach D&T at Mossgate?
At Mossgate, our Design and Technology curriculum is carefully structured to help children become creative, confident and capable designers. We use projects from the Design and Technology Association to ensure our teaching is high-quality, well-structured and up to date, with a clear progression of skills and knowledge throughout the school.
Each unit of learning includes a strong focus on the three key elements of DT: designing, making and evaluating. Learning is organised through three types of activities:
Investigative and evaluative activities – exploring existing products and discovering how D&T is used in the wider world.
Focused tasks – developing specific technical knowledge, designing skills and making skills.
Project work – applying learning to create functional products with real users and clear purposes in mind.
This approach ensures that children learn through exploration, practice and purposeful creation, while building creativity, problem-solving skills and practical knowledge, preparing them to become the designers of the future.
Each year, children in every year group explore the work of a famous designer linked to one of their DT units. This helps them see how real designers solve problems, use creativity and make purposeful products. By learning from these examples, our pupils are inspired to try new ideas, take risks and develop their own skills as confident and imaginative designers.
Why do we teach a cooking and nutrition unit in every year group?
At Mossgate, health and wellbeing are a top priority. Every autumn term, the whole school focuses on helping children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Subjects such as PSHEC (including friendships, relationships, anti-bullying and mental health), PE, Science (Animals, including humans) and Design & Technology (cooking and nutrition) work together to support this learning.
Cooking and nutrition are taught in every year group, giving children the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices and prepare simple, nutritious meals. Our aim is for children to leave Mossgate with a clear understanding of healthy living, practical cooking skills, and the confidence to make positive lifestyle choices for themselves and their families.
What do our pupils think about DT?
At Mossgate, we believe it’s important to listen to our pupils’ views. Their feedback helps us refine and improve our curriculum, so it meets their needs and prepares them for the ever-changing world around them. We are proud of our Design & Technology curriculum, and here’s what some of our wonderful pupils have to say about it.
Zoe Robinson
Design & Technology Subject Leader
January 2026