Category: CBeebies
Date: 15.06.2005
Printable version
CBeebies programme Something Special has been given an RTS Educational Television award.
The Early Years Award was for the episode Garden, said by the judges to be "warm and engaging. It fulfilled its educational goals and was superbly presented. The jury wished to commend it for portraying children with learning and communication difficulties as heroes."
Using a signing system called MakatonT, the series helps pre-school children or children in the early years of primary school learn how to communicate as well as developing their language skills in an enjoyable and exciting way.
It is particularly focused towards meeting the needs of children with learning difficulties.
The series invites all children - and their parents and carers - to learn how to sign and join in the fun.
Presented by Justin Fletcher (Tikkabilla) and incorporating songs, rhymes and visual humour the series focuses on common themes that appeal to children such as toys and the seaside.
Kay Benbow, Executive Producer, CBeebies Production, said: "We know from the huge amount of feedback we get how this programme is helping children with learning and communication difficulties. It has given them a voice. We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the RTS."
New episodes of Something Special are currently being planned.
Notes to Editors
Something Special transmitted on CBeebies in August 2004.
Other nominees in the category for Early Years were The Roly Mo Show (Novel Entertainment for CBeebies and BBC TWO) and Watch - Barnaby Bear Goes to Mexico City (CBBC for BBC TWO).
Other BBC category winners at the RTS Educational Television Awards 2004 were:
Primary Arts and Language - Primary Arabic - Life and Language (CBBC for BBC TWO);
Primary Humanities -
Coping with Anger, Emotional Literacy (CBBC for BBC TWO);
Primary and Secondary Science, Maths, Design and ICT -
KS2 Science Clips - Micro-organisms (CBBC for BBC TWO);
Primary and Secondary Multimedia and Interactive
- L8r - What Am I Gonna Do? (Hi8us South/APT Films for BBC TWO);
Lifelong Learning & Multimedia - Transit of Venus (Screenhouse Productions for Open University and BBC TWO);
Campaigns & Seasons - RTS/NIACE Award - Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC/Wall 2 Wall for BBC TWO/BBC FOUR);
Single Programme - Breast Cancer - The Operation (BBC Specialist Features and Business for BBC THREE).
