Q Pootle 5

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Encourage the children to make links with other areas of provision and to develop their ideas in a range of contexts, for example building a space ship in the outdoor area and using the key to start up its engine (see also 'Child-initiated learning'). Q Pootle 5 is an animated series set in space, on a planet called Okidoki. It follows the adventures of a group of loveable alien friends. The show feels to me like the children’s TV I grew up loving, such as Mr Benn and The Wombles, as it is very character driven. For me it has been hugely satisfying to be able to widen the scope of what I have been trying to do in the field of children’s books. TV is a much more collaborative process than publishing. Working with Ben and Annette has allowed me to work with people I like and respect towards the common goal of creating a high quality, narrative based children’s TV series. Make the musical instruments available throughout the day or session over a period of time (see 'Child-initiated learning: Music and sound') to enable the children to experiment with, and discriminate between, different sounds. With the children, tape some of the sounds they produce and use these to represent, for example, the spaceship lifting off as you revisit the story. These audio tapes could also be used to support imaginative and role play. Talk about the space moon party picture and what you can both see. Count the aliens at the moon party.

In geography children can look at space, the moon and the earth and its relationships using the book as a starting point. In science and geography they can look at how different components go together in making cars, bikes and then spaceships and they can explore what the spaceship needs for it to work. Planet Dave lives within view of Oki Doki. He is big enough for everyone to land their ships on when they visit him, and is very old indeed. This project, based on the story, offers an exciting stimulus and opportunities for children to make links across provision and connections in all areas of learning.Play alongside the children, making up recipes for party food and talking about Q Pootle 5's moon party. Display the poster (provided with the book) in the book area to promote further discussion about the story and moon party. In the outdoor area, hang equipment such as pans, spoons and boxes on the fence and encourage children to 'play' these as instruments. Q Pootle 5, known as "Pootle" to his friends, is a friendly green alien and the lead character in the show. He enjoys stargazing on top of the camper van where he lives and spending time with his friends.

Anyone who doesn't have a child addicted to CBeebies (the 'early years' BBC channel) may not have heard of Q Pootle 5. I've become rather fond of him. He's an affable little green alien who lives on the planet Okiedokie, and potters around having gentle adventures with his alien buddies. suggests ways to enhance areas of core provision to consolidate children's learning about the theme. It is the practitioner's role to observe children's learning daily to inform individual children's Profiles and future planning. Children should be encouraged to use available resources to support their own learning, so the possible learning outcomes will be wide-ranging and varied for each child. The first DVD entitled Q Pootle 5: The Great Space Race and other Adventures! will be released on 6 October and The Christmas Special will launch in November. Can you describe them for our readers? How? Why? When? Who? What? Reinforce key words in the story (such as moon, spaceship) and items in the bag. Walker Books will launch two TV tie-in books (Great Space Race and Groobie’s Space Wash) on 6 November. What we should expect?advocates that settings should be organised and resourced using a 'workshop' approach so children can access resources autonomously and independently. We wanted to give kids a good time, we did that in knowledge that what we were intending to bring were positive values. I think you always bring your own values to writing, so I brought mine and also the values of my son, Ben – without him the Q Pootle 5 series would not be out there! I also looked for other writers who shared those values so they became embedded in the series. They are not made to teach as such, but still bring things which children can learn, like how to react kindly, be unselfish and have warm friendships. Use the story to develop literacy skills and as a starting point for play and learning in other contexts. Use open questioning to challenge children's thinking. Encourage them to talk about their ideas and to plan their response to Q Pootle 5's note. Unfortunately, I'm kind of disappointed with this one - and it's not really the book's fault - but it no longer sits right with the TV series.

Some people create characters and shows purely to entertain, whereas others want to teach children something. Did you have specific aims when making Q Pootle 5 as a TV series? Decide what other resources are needed to create a 'moon environment' for Q Pootle 5 and his friends. I think part of it is that he’s international because he is intergalactic. Percy the Park Keeper did get published internationally, but he has a quintessential Englishness which meant he was not quite so accessible. One real plus is the children being able to see the spaceship whizzing about and space noises are just great on TV, it really lends itself to the screen.

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identifies adult-led activities to introduce or develop children's understanding of the topic through stimulating, meaningful experiences which offer challenge. After your child has heard the story a few times they could use the pictures to help them tell it themselves, in their own words. Talk about the book Watch your children draw – I must say, I love the way children draw – I just think they have this real confidence to get something down on paper without thinking too much about what it’s going to look like, and it’s only later when they start thinking about ‘Ooh, is this right?’ that they then start to think ‘Oh, I can’t draw’ and it becomes stilted. Picasso said it took him a lifetime to draw like a child and he meant to draw with that kind of simplicity and confidence children have. There’s a great story of a little girl who was drawing a detailed picture and when asked what she was drawing, she replied ‘I’m drawing God.’ The teacher said, ‘But no-one knows what God looks like’ and the child replied ‘Well, they will in a minute.’ It’s just that lovely confidence that children have, they’re willing to have a go, to just do it and see what happens. So, my advice is to help sparingly and appreciate copiously and say, “Wow, that’s brilliant! Tell me all about it!”