Year 10 Design and Technology students have begun an exciting new project that brings classroom learning into the real world, working with genuine clients from our Little Grange Nursery. As part of their design brief, pupils have been challenged to design and make an educational toy suitable for children aged 3–4, with a strong focus on understanding the needs of their users throughout the entire design process.
To begin the project, students visited Little Grange to carry out hands-on market research with the nursery children. Through observation, conversation and play-based interaction, the Year 10 pupils gained valuable insights into what engages and interests younger learners, helping them to develop thoughtful, age-appropriate design ideas.
This collaboration offers significant benefits for both age groups. Our older pupils developed key skills such as empathy, communication and problem-solving, while the nursery children enjoyed sharing their ideas and seeing how their opinions could influence real designs. These meaningful interactions help to build confidence, nurture leadership skills and strengthen the sense of community across the school.
Later in the term, the Year 10 students hope to return to Little Grange to present their finished toys and gather user feedback, completing the full design cycle. This project is a wonderful example of purposeful, real-world learning and the positive impact of cross-age collaboration.
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