Gwyn McCormack and Prof Rachel Pilling on Marvin’s Story Time Show

Gwyn McCormack is a Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairments, who founded Positive Eye in 2008. She spent many years as a teacher, first in a mainstream secondary school then later as a Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairments in a peripatetic support service. She also spent five years managing a local authority peripatetic support service, before leaving to set up Positive Eye.

Gwyn is the author of over 33 practical programmes developed to support the workforce in meeting the needs of children with SEND and is also the author of 20 Marvin Adventure Stories which are watched by over 12,500 children around the world.

Professor Rachel Pilling specialises in paediatric ophthalmology, including squint surgery and retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment. She is part of a team which provides visual assessments to children with developmental delay and special needs in eye clinic and when visiting special schools.

She also offers support to all through the website Make It Easier To See, where there are tons of ideas to help people with cerebral visual impairment and brain based visual problems.

Early years professionals will discover evidence-based strategies for supporting children with visual impairments and special educational needs through the innovative Marvin’s Storytime Shows. This insightful interview with Gwyn McCormack and Professor Rachel Pilling reveals how simple environmental modifications and engaging storytelling can dramatically improve children’s visual attention, social interaction, and learning outcomes whilst bringing joy back into the classroom.

In this episode you’ll:

• Learn how Marvin’s Story Time Shows help children with cerebral visual impairment, autism, and complex needs develop visual attention and communication skills
• Discover research-proven benefits including increased classroom joy, improved teaching environments, and valuable assessment opportunities through naturalistic observation
• Understand simple “make it easier to see” strategies using black backgrounds, high contrast materials, and decluttered spaces that cost nothing to implement
• See how repetition and anticipation build engagement, with Gwyn’s intuitive seven-repetition approach helping children predict and participate in storytelling
• Explore practical ways to embed these visual support principles across your entire curriculum, from literacy programmes to concept development activities

Watch this episode to transform how you support children with visual needs whilst creating more inclusive learning environments that benefit every child in your setting.

Episode Links:

Click here for free sign up for the shows: https://marvinstorytimeshow.co.uk/product/marvins-story-time-show/

https://positiveeye.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/gwyneth.mccormack

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwyneth-mccormack-5708991b

https://makeiteasiertosee.co.uk/

https://www.bradford.ac.uk/staff/rfpilling

The ‘Visual Behaviours in Neurodivergent Children Parent’ Questionaire mentioned by Rachel can be found here:

https://forms.office.com/e/dqEa27FcTg