Our approach to the primary DT curriculum 

This printable PDF document provides a detailed overview of Kapow Primary’s DT scheme of work, designed to support teaching in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. It helps primary school teachers confidently deliver a well-structured, engaging DT scheme, aligned with the National curriculum.

What does Kapow Primary’s DT long-term plan contain?

The long-term plan outlines the progression of skills and knowledge in D&T, ensuring that pupils build upon their learning each year in a spiral curriculum.

It covers the statutory requirements of the National curriculum, details the DT skills and knowledge taught, offers guidance on primary DT assessment and provides information to support the implementation of Kapow Primary’s Design and technology scheme within your primary school setting.

How does Kapow Primary’s DT scheme develop knowledge and skills?

This document provides a suggested long-term plan for each year group, ensuring a clear pathway for pupil learning. Progression is broken down into the following key areas:

• Cooking and nutrition: discovering where food comes from; creating a balanced diet; following kitchen hygiene and safety; developing preparation and cooking skills; following a recipe. 
• Mechanisms: using cams, followers, levers and sliders to mimic natural movements.
• Structures: learning about the properties of materials; improving a structure’s strength and stability; reinforcing structures.
• Textiles: using fabric techniques to fasten, sew and decorate.
• Electrical systems: creating electrical products using series circuits, circuit components, circuit diagrams and symbols.
• Digital world: programming products to perform tasks; developing 2D and 3D designs and models using CAD software.

Can I adapt the DT long-term plan to my school?

All schools have different needs. As such, Kapow Primary’s DT units can be taught in different orders or moved within key stages to align with your school’s specific requirements and cross-curricular links.

If your school is short on curriculum time, you may wish to look at our Long-term plan – condensed version, which covers the National curriculum in only 18 lessons, or the Long-term plan – combined version, which is designed for settings that alternate between Art and DT teaching each half-term.

What other Kapow Primary resources support primary DT teaching?

• For our standard D&T scheme, see the corresponding D&T: Progression of skills and knowledge.
• If you follow our Long-term plan – condensed, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – condensed.
• If you subscribe to both subjects and follow our alternating Art and D&T long-term plan, see the corresponding Art and D&T: Progression of skills and knowledge.
• If you follow our Long-term plan – mixed-age, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – mixed-age version.
• See how children begin their Kapow design journey with our EYFS (Reception) D&T units. 
• To learn how children develop skills, see our D&T KS1 units.
• Explore more of Kapow Primary’s D&T scheme by browsing our Lower KS2, Upper KS2  and Mixed-age units.