Words and Pictures: Phonics Special
Phonics Special is a unit of the BBC Schools TV series Words and Pictures from the 1990s & 2000s, covering English for Primary pupils.
A series focussing on long vowel sounds, as well as alphabetical order, using the familiar Words and Pictures techniques of colourful graphics, documentaries, words to read from the screen, and the magic pencil writing the letters.
In a stylised family house, presenter Sophie Aldred picks several letters of the alphabet out from a laundry hamper and shows how when she puts them together they make a new sound. A magic fridge can rearrange its magnetic letters to spell different words with the sound of the day, and Sophie is seen exploring locations to gather words for her sound scrapbook, and arranging them using an enormous wall of pockets for each letter of the alphabet sewn into her kitchen curtain, to house cards with words on them. There are also the usual story readings, and magic pencil drawing the letter combination of the week.
The programmes are designed to fit into the English National Curriculum at the end of Year 1, or as consolidation in Year 2.
Titles & Theme Music
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Everybody sing with me.
H, I, J, K, L, M, N
When we stop we start again.
Episode List
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ee | 12 Jan 1999 |
| 2. | Ea | 19 Jan 1999 |
| 3. | Ay | 26 Jan 1999 |
| 4. | Ai | 2 Feb 1999 |
| 5. | A-e | 9 Feb 1999 |
| 6. | Y | 23 Feb 1999 |
| 7. | Igh | 2 Mar 1999 |
| 8. | I-e | 9 Mar 1999 |
| 9. | Oa | 16 Mar 1999 |
| 10. | Oo | 23 Mar 1999 |
Episode order
The episode on ea was originally broadcast second as listed here. The video releases also used this order.
However for all TV screenings from 2001 onwards that episode was shifted to be broadcast fifth.
Episode Guide
A simple guide to the books featured in each episode.
1. Ee
- Story: Goodnight Owl by Pat Hutchins
First broadcast: Tuesday 12th January 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Monday 23rd January 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY238D
2. Ea
- Story: The Big, Big Sea by Martin Waddell
First broadcast: Tuesday 19th January 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th January 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY239X
3. Ay
- Story: Summery Saturday Morning by Margaret Mahy
First broadcast: Tuesday 26th January 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Monday 23rd January 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY240R
4. Ai
- Story: The Train Ride by June Crebbin
First broadcast: Tuesday 2nd February 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Tuesday 24th January 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY241K
5. A-e
- Story: Rumplestiltskin (traditional)
First broadcast: Tuesday 9th February 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Tuesday 24th January 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY242E
6. Y
- Story: Why Do Stars Come Out at Night? by Annelena McAfee
First broadcast: Tuesday 23rd February 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th January 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY243Y
7. Igh
- Story: This is the Bear and the Scary Night by Sarah Hughes
First broadcast: Tuesday 2nd March 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 26th January 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY244S
8. I-e
- Story: The Magical Bicycle by Berlie Doherty
First broadcast: Tuesday 9th March 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 26th January 2006, 9:35am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY245L
9. Oa
- Story: The Owl and the Pussy Cat by Edward Lear
First broadcast: Tuesday 16th March 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 26th January 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY246F
10. Oo
- Story: Dave and the Tooth Fairy by Verna Wilkins
First broadcast: Tuesday 23rd March 1999, 11:35am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 26th January 2006, 11:30am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBY247A
Broadcasts
| Year | Term | Day | Time | Channel | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | Spring | Tue | 11:35 | BBC2 | |
| Summer 1999 | Thu | 10:45 & 11:00 | BBC2 | Some eps on Wednesdays, and at other times | |
| Tue & Wed | 02:00 | BBC2 | 11th & 12th May on Learning Zone, paired with Numbertime | ||
| 1999-2000 | Summer 2000 | Mon | 9:30 | BBC2 | Skipping eps 1-3 & 8 |
| Fri | 09:30 | BBC2 | Skipping eps 1-2 & 8 | ||
| 2000-01 | Spring 2001 | Tue | 11:00 | BBC2 | |
| Thu | 11:00 | BBC2 | Repeat | ||
| 2001-02 | Spring 2002 | Fri | 11:20 | BBC2 | |
| 2002-03 | Spring 2003 | Thu | 10:50 | BBC2 | |
| Summer 2003 | Mon-Fri | 09:15 & 11:05 | CBBC | ||
| 2003-04 | Autumn 2003 | Mon-Fri | 09:15 & 11:05 | CBBC | |
| Spring 2004 | Mon | 13:15 | BBC2 | ||
| Mon-Fri | 09:15 & 11:05 | CBBC | |||
| 2004-05 | Spring 2005 | Mon-Fri | 09:15 & 11:15 | CBBC | |
| 2005-06 | Spring 2006 | Mon-Thu | 09:15 & 11:15 | CBBC |
Credits
| Presenter | Sophie Aldred |
| Music | Archie Brown Andrew Dodge Sandy Nuttgens |
| Animation | Ealing Animation Alan Rogers & Peter Lang |
| Design | Petra Cox |
| Consultant | Sue Palmer |
| Director | Allan Johnston Melanie Brown |
| Executive producer | Clare Elstow |
| Producer | Allan Johnston |
Resources
Teacher's Notes
Video and DVD
The unit was released on video under the title Long Vowel Sounds.
Later it was issued as a Video Plus Pack, bundling the video with the resource book, and later still as a DVD Plus Pack with the video substituted for a DVD.
Phonics Resource Pack
Written by Judith Puddick
Software
A Phonics CD-ROM was released in 1999.
With thanks to Ben Rigsby.
Links
- BBC Programmes page for Phonics Special
- BBC Education - Words and Pictures (archived 1999)A website with Flash games based on the Phonics Special programmes was launched in 1999. It was later expanded to cover the subjects of Words and Pictures Plus.
Topics
School topics covered in this programme. Click to find other programmes covering the same topics, but bear in mind topics are a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
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Some features of this programme. Click to find other programmes with the same features, but bear in mind tags are also a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
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