SALFORD SCHOOL HELPS PILOT GROUND-BREAKING SEN RESOURCE LAUNCHING THIS SUMMER

The world's only online story time show designed specifically for children with special educational needs (SEN) is launching in the UK later this summer. Over 1.5 million children have SEN in the UK and this figure grows every year.

Created in lockdown to stimulate and entertain the most isolated children and families, the show has been three years in the making, and key schools and families from across Salford and Greater Manchester have been involved in the development. Springwood Primary School in Swinton have been advocates from the start and have been watching the pilots and test shows helping to shape the final model. EYFS and Key stage 1 with complex needs teacher Rebecca Dickens, says: 'The story time show has allowed our pupils to access a visually friendly and exciting world of adventures. The sparkly and enticing characters help them to attend to and engage with a visual way of accessing stories.' Following their early involvement, the school has also entered the show's creator into a national award for educational resources.

Marvin's Story Time Show strengthens literacy outcomes for children with complex learning needs, both in school and at home by providing access to literacy skills beyond the typical story book, through inclusive multi-sensory fun.

Developed by a leading international SEND teacher of 40 years, creator Gwyneth McCormack from Wigan has used her insight, skills, knowledge and creativity to create a literacy model to stimulate and engage children with SEND. After almost three years, research and studies show that these children now for the first time have something that works for them. Many children with complex needs can watch independently for the whole hour and are engaged and responding like never before.

Featuring a bright and colourful main character called Marvin, the show follows his everyday adventures that provide concepts and meaningful literacy opportunities for children who have limited opportunities and access to SEN-designed products and services.

Created in lockdown to stimulate and entertain the most isolated children and their families in the USA, Marvin's Story Time Show will air on August 27 to its first UK audience, and it is the only story time show entirely for children with SEND.

The show offers a bridge to learning through a fun filled and bright accessible story time as it is an opportunity for the whole family to participate in an activity together which means that the opportunities to access learning increase. The high energy show is facilitated through the use of high contrast colours on a black background. Sparkly characters slide in and out of the black background and the simple visuals allow children to focus, engage and communicate.

Feedback from parents, carers and teachers in the UK and the USA shows that children show increased concentration, vocalisation and the show is providing opportunities to develop fine motor, concept, visual, auditory, language and tactile skills.

Gwyn also features in the show as storyteller Gwynnie-Gwyn-Gwyn to capture attention by using colourful, interactive, and engaging words, noises and motions to capture the children's attention. Pom poms, huge colourful hats and red bobble gloves designed for children with vision impairment are also used to engage attention.

International SEN Consultant, Gwyn McCormack, said:

Quote

'I created Marvin's Story Time Show for the most overlooked children and their families, whose needs are still not met. I am incredibly proud that the new season is about to go live because I have created this show from the bottom of my heart entirely for children with special needs and with many years of knowing how to teach and stimulate children. Children with special needs want to have fun, experience joy and participate in story time alongside their typically developing siblings, family members and friends and this show enables them to do just that.'

Rochelle Followes, 32, who is mum to Zachariah, aged 9 from Salford, and who has worked closely with the creators along the way due to her sons complex needs: says:

Quote

'We have been part of Marvin's Story Time Show since the very beginning; it's colourful, fun, engaging and fabulous. Zachariah has a life limiting condition, Lissencephaly, with various medical needs including epilepsy and Cortical Visual Impairment, and he loves watching Gwyn and her colourful friends. He responds by becoming alert and blowing raspberries to show enjoyment. He benefits from the vibrant colours, repetitive literacy and lyrics, and the friendly, excitable and clear voice of Gwyn. Gwyn has worked very closely with myself and other parent/carers in to create a show that best responds to our children's needs of communication and engagement and she's given me skills which have improved how I adapt everyday life for my son, and bring the world to him and I have also been able to educate those who work with my son to his benefit.'

The new season of Marvin's Story Time Show, The Big Sea Adventure, which is hosted on its own channel with no ads, comments or trolling, starts on August 27.  Subscribers can sign up for £9.99* (families) and £65* (schools) and there is the chance to watch previous episodes on repeat/unlimited.

A season's subscription also includes inclusion into a closed FB support group, downloadable assets including print off sheets and home learning tips and craft ideas to bring the episodes live at home and extend learning.

Photo ©: @positiveeye/GwynMcCormack