Accessible Story Time for Children with Complex Needs

The Challenge

For children with Complex Needs, PMLD, Autism, Vision Impairment (VI) and Cerebral Vision Impairment (CVI), traditional children’s programming is often a sensory “black hole.” Fast-paced cuts, cluttered backgrounds, and lack of descriptive pacing create a barrier to literacy and joy.

Bridging the gap

Marvin’s Story Time Show was born to bridge this gap, ensuring that every child is included when it comes to the magic of stories.

Digital learning can be inaccessible for children with complex needs. Positive Eye created Marvin’s Story Time Show to offer accessible story time and to help these children build literacy access skills (vision, auditory, oracy, language) enabling them to join in more activities beyond story time.

Inclusive pedagogy

Unlike standard broadcasts, our show is built on a foundation of inclusive pedagogy. Every episode utilizes:

Marvin’s Story Time Show uses Universal Design for Learning by eliminating visual distractions, making it accessible and engaging for children with complex needs. The programme features rhythmic storytelling, black backgrounds, accessibility-focused visuals, and a consistent structure designed by Positive Eye, ensuring each element supports a learning objective.

Marvin, a relatable boy character, leads the sessions with a zest that invites children into story time. This enthusiasm is a key driver for engagement, turning “learning time” into the most anticipated part of the week.

Impact on children’s outcomes

So many teachers say their children are more alert, engaged, anticipatory, realising what will happen next, vocalising, copying, in a way they have not observed before.

The impact is validated by the community of schools and families participating. Currently the programme has reached over 16,000 children’s views in the last two years alone, opening the door to accessible story, literacy, a shared joy and a real sense of belonging.

Impact on teacher practice

The show is transforming teacher practice, educators are now adopting the approaches as part of their teaching practicie and building the programme into their regular literacy curriculum planning. They have witnessed firsthand the impact and improved engagement levels in their children.

The joy of shared experience.

Marvin’s Story Time Show is becoming the highlight of many children’s week and something everyone anticipates. When children, educators, and families tune in from classrooms and homes across the globe, they join a distinctive and meaningful shared experience.

Through Marvin’s Story Time Show we are opening the door to inclusive literacy and welcoming all children to share the joy of story together…..

As a teacher of PMLD shared…..

“My school is a secondary , broad-spectrum school. Our students are set in pathways including ASD, PMLD, SLD and MLD needs.
My class ( in my present school) have joined the Marvin showtimes over this and last year and since that time other classes have looked at previous showtimes on YouTube ( after telling other teachers in school about your shows).
All classes and students seeing Marvin have been fully engaged in the stories!! they love your story telling and the images and puppets! the levels of engagement are more consistent and persistent than for any other story time presentations we have used before. Some students who can find it difficult to engage in a story are curious and observant throughout the story. Eye tracking and stilling/focussing throughout!
We enjoy your Storytimes so much, it is lovely to see the student’s enjoyment and excitement, Marvin has become their favourite story time character.”
Thank you so much!”