Gwyn McCormack is the director of Positive Eye, which was established over 14 years ago. At Positive Eye Gwyn combines her creativity and knowledge to write and create programmes, courses and resources to support professionals and families working or supporting children with complex learning needs/vision impairment. Her business is international – her programmes are used and her work is respected by many countries.
In this session, Gwyn explains how a simple, effective multi-sensory approach to story is helping children with complex learning needs and vision impairment find their own starting point for literacy, and shares the practical, low-cost strategies practitioners can use in their own settings.
In this episode you’ll:
- Discover the “red arrow” model Gwyn uses to explain how literacy skills build up over time in every child
- Meet Marvin, the glittery doll bringing families together through pretend play and tactile exploration
- Hear real family stories of children lifting their heads, standing unaided, and finding their voice through story
- Learn how a few pounds of props, gloves, pom poms, a rainbow wheel, can build visual attention and social communication
- Find out what’s next for Marvin, including a university research partnership and a new live community show
Watch the full interview to see Marvin in action and discover how Gwyn’s low-cost, effective – and cost effective! – approach to storytime is helping children with complex learning needs find their way into story.
Links:
Marvin Story Time Community Show: https://positiveeye.co.uk/our-products/marvins-story-time/
Positive Eye website: https://www.positiveeye.co.uk
NEW!!
Research support Gwyn’s approach, conducted by Dr Rachel Pilling, has now been published!
“Describing the impact of an accessible literacy programme for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties on teaching staff”
In NASEN’s Support for Learning Journal (14 May 2026), authored by Professor Rachel Pilling and Gwyn McCormack.
https://nasenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9604.70053
Download the FREE APP: Positive Looking to Go (on App store or Google Play)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwyneth.mccormack/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwyneth-mccormack-5708991b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pos_eye/
Episode Includes
- 1 Video
