As they have no wings, we liked the idea that the Twirlywoos could be lifted up and out of their boat by their crests, which spin like propellers. They’re not in control of their own crests, though, and this was a great device to help with the writing.

Twirlywoos sometimes do things that parents have sometimes seen their own children doing (wrapping up, sliding, twirling) and this gives the children confidence in their own knowledge. Twirlywoos is based on well recognised research into how young children learn. Beginning with children’s own persistent interests (or schemas) – each programme explores a single idea in depth with what happens outside also reflected when the Twirlywoos return to their boat. They play with the new idea they have encountered in the world. This educational underpinning ensures good programme content which matches children’s interests and therefore maximizes the likelihood that children will enjoy and from that enjoyment comes further learning. For Twirlywoos we invited Professor Cathy Nutbrown to consult with us about the patterns of thinking from which children’s early learning develops. The concepts which she approved have become the foundations for the programme and all development from it. The Stop-Go Car – a little purple toy car who loves to lead the Twirlywoos in a merry chase and also delivers surprises Twirlywoos is a child-centric programme – from the opening words in the song ‘me, me, ME!’ – young viewers know more than the characters they see which means they can predict what might happen. Prediction is an important part of beginning reading behaviour. By being able to predict, young viewers can enjoy what they see because they are the ‘experts’. The programme offers space for children to talk with the adults and/or other children they are watching alongside.

Props

Dogs on the beach … Dad and Mum apply zinc to Bluey and Bingo’s faces in Bluey. Photograph: Ludo Studio/BBC We know that children learn through humour and that when children find things funny they are in a position of understanding, so the fun in Twirlywoos is important. Have you ever wondered why the characters on CBeebies shows look the way they do? We quizzed Steve Roberts (Lead Creative and Writer on Twirlywoos) to find out how he went about designing a whole crew of new CBeebies favourites. Children’s own – ordinary/everyday experiences (the park, baking, watching a dog run) – are to the fore – which again grounds the programme into the child’s world using ideas that the children relate to. Big, blue and a bit of a softy, Great BigHoo has an inquisitive nature. He can often be found investigating new objects and trying to find out how they work. Probably the most cautious of all the Twirlywoos, he is nevertheless always keen to join in the fun.

Twirlywoos recognises children’s rich capacity to learn and to know at a young age and so the content builds on what we know about how children approach learning in (and about) the world. Key characteristics include: curiosity, persistent patterns of thought and the importance of movement. (The Twirlywoos are constantly on the move – or moving objects – as are young children.) There were lots and lots of drawing and discussions with Anne (Wood, the show’s creator). We worked together for quite a while to fully develop the way the Twirlywoos characters look. During the process of creating the Twirlywoos, aspects of the characters’ design did change, but their thin, stripy legs, flat feet and the big round eyes remained constant throughout. We made the boat interior as simple as possible; like a minimal theatre set, so painted wooden boards seemed right.The most delightful show CBeebies ever made. In every episode, lovely, twinkly Bernard Cribbins boards his boat and tells a lovely, twinkly story to his adorably old dog. Not a huge amount happens in the stories – they usually revolve around the local community, which includes Freema Agyeman and Helen Lederer, and younger kids may be put off by the slower pace at first – but it is a great world in which to immerse yourself. Better yet, several episodes were written by Russell T Davies. 10 Dipdap A vibrant shade of red with a yellow and orange crest. Toodloo is a very flamboyant character, often to be seen singing and dancing exuberantly. Toodloo is extremely impulsive and has a tendency to dive head first into situations. The Twirlywoo Screen - an enchanted drawing wall with an unlimited capacity to create a magical, moving image Ever curious, they seek adventure and fun wherever they go. Whether in the real world or on their Big Red Boat, they love to hide, imitate and be surprised as they discover new things. The show has been developed with a commitment to watching how children interact and develop, and each episode creates spaces for pre-schoolers to make their own connections, which aids their learning.