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Marvin's Storytime Show: A online literacy programme for children with complex needs

About the Programme Creator

After spending many years as a Qualified Teacher of VI, managing school services for children with vision impairments, in the United Kingdom, Gwyn founded Positive Eye, Ltd in 2008 to provide solution-focused programs, courses, and resources worldwide.

Gwyn, Founder of Marvin's storytime show

Through Positive Eye, Gwyn has become a highly respected leader in her field, inspiring caregivers and practitioners, while developing their skills, understanding, and strategies.  By promoting inclusion and engagement, she improves outcomes for children with special educational needs, including those with a vision impairment.

What is Marvin’s Story Time Show

Marvin’s Story Time Show is an online educational programme which nurtures and enables access to literacy beyond the typical reading book for children and young people of all ages who have complex or sensory needs, profound and multiple learning disabilities, low vision and cerebral vision impairment.

Marvin’s Story Time Show has reached over 10,000 children across the world in the last 20 months alone, with many more watching since the show launched in March 2020.

The Marvin Story Time Show is feelgood, happy and fun. The simple, stripped back model places children with complex needs as the starting point for accessible story time. Families and schools enjoy watching the show as it offers the bridge to accessible story time for everyone.

The show is designed to incorporate accessible teaching and learning strategies which strengthen participation in story time and the development of communication, language and literacy.

Marvin’s Story Time Show uses specific techniques to engage children with complex needs. It employs high contrast glittery characters presented against an uncluttered black background to maximise access, improve visual attention and increase engagement and participation. 

Each show follows the same structure incorporating specific elements to maximise the opportunity to increase literacy skills: a huge happy loud welcome, rainbow wheel spins, cheerful, happy songs, time spent saying ‘Hi’ to the children, a chat/wave to Marvin and a story told with high energy using glittery homemade characters.

Gwyn with a child at Marvin's storytime show

What difference does the show make?

Marvin’s Story Time Show is especially loved by children and young people, capturing their imagination and creating moments they truly cherish. These shows bring immense joy, laughter, and fun to those watching. One of the many positive outcomes is a noticeable increase in engagement and participation.

How do schools and families take part?

The shows are aired live on ZOOM. Schools and families watch the live shows and can then watch the recordings again on Marvin’s Story Time Channel. This is a password protected page on Marvin’s website. Sign up to the Marvin Story Time Show is required to access the recordings.

British Sign and American Sign Language Interpreters are on the shows broadcast live on Sundays.

Families and schools in Bury have enjoyed participating in Marvin’s Story Time Show since its launch in March 2020. Many families watched during the pandemic, looking forward to the shows which were then aired three times per week on Facebook live. Since September 2023 they have continued to enjoy the shows live on ZOOM and a live in-person version was presented for Bee Inclusive in May 2023.

What the parents say…

“We have been part of the Story Time Show since the very beginning. We have seen it blossom into a colourful, fun, engaging and fabulous show. My son, Z, 10, who has a life limiting condition, Lissencephaly, with various medical needs including epilepsy and Cortical visual Impairment, has enjoyed watching Gwyn and her colourful friends both through the screen, and in person. He responds by becoming alert and blowing raspberries to show enjoyment. He benefits from the vibrant colours, repetitive literacy and lyrics, and the friendly, yet excitable and clear voice of Gwyn.”
Parent/Carer

Bury Council's Vision and Hearing Impairment Service says...

“Gwyn from Positive Eye and the Bury VI Education Service go back many years.  Gwyn has provided invaluable training to the Service and her knowledge and expertise is second to none!  The Service promotes her wonderful creation, ‘Marvin’s Story Time Show’ through its Padlet and many of Bury’s caseload children and their families love Gwyneth and Marvin!  Its engaging and fun format offers a unique experience for our children and young people with more complex learning needs.   I am delighted that Bury is showcasing Gwyn’s passion and magic for accessible language and literacy development through ‘Marvin’s Story Time Show’.

Taking part:

A free programme schedule runs throughout the year. Follow the link to sign up for the Show here:

https://marvinstorytimeshow.co.uk/product/marvins-story-time-show/

A confirmation email is sent on receipt of the completed booking form, with the password to access Marvin’s Story Time Channel and ZOOM links are sent out near to the date of each live show.

Everyone is welcome to the Greatest Story Time Show in the World and Ever