Impact of Little Magic Train

Little Magic Train is a multi-sensory storytelling programme designed to support communication, confidence and engagement in early years settings.

Used in over 200 nurseries and preschools, the programme combines movement, music and storytelling to create inclusive learning experiences that support children across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Practitioners report improved participation, increased language use and greater confidence among children taking part in the adventures.

The programme has evolved over more than two decades and is now delivered through a growing digital library used by early years practitioners across England and Wales.

200+ nurseries and preschools using Little Magic Train

10,000+ children supported across England and Wales

150,000+ children reached through partner learning events

92% increased engagement during group activities

88% improved communication confidence

85% greater participation from quieter children

100% of responding settings would recommend the programme

Little Magic Train has been designed to be easily implemented across a wide range of early years environments, including nurseries, preschools, reception classes and specialist SEND settings.

The programme is delivered through a structured digital library and practitioner-friendly resources that enable educators to lead multi-sensory storytelling sessions without requiring specialist movement or drama training. This allows settings to integrate the adventures into daily practice while maintaining consistency and quality.

Because the core structure of each adventure remains familiar, children quickly learn the routine while practitioners can adapt the experiences to suit different ages, abilities and learning needs.

This flexible approach allows Little Magic Train to be successfully used in mainstream early years provision, specialist SEND environments and mixed-ability groups, supporting inclusive learning experiences for children across diverse settings.

STAR endorsement from Montessori Global Education

This recognition reflects the programme’s commitment to providing inclusive, engaging and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children.

2002
Little Magic Train begins delivering specialist movement-based storytelling sessions in early years settings.

2008
Development begins on a more accessible delivery model to support early years settings during the global financial crisis.

2013
Little Magic Train resource packs launched, enabling practitioners to deliver adventures within their own settings.

2020
Development of the Little Magic Train online library begins during the Covid pandemic.

2022
Online library launched, including specialist sensory experiences and speech and language support activities.

2022
Creative Play Awards – Winner

2023
Creative Play Awards – Winner

2024
Featured on BBC Time for School

2025
Sensory storytelling adventures introduced.

2025
Early years technology exploration experiences introduced.

2025
STAR Endorsement from Montessori Global Education.

2026
Adventures expanded to include experiences accessible for children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD).  Little Magic Train resources within the Learning Box by YPO offering for schools.

Young children learn best through experiences that involve the whole body and all the senses. Movement, rhythm, language and imagination work together to strengthen the brain’s developing neural pathways.

Each Little Magic Train adventure combines movement, music, storytelling and sensory exploration to encourage children to listen, respond and participate. Through shared adventures, children develop:

communication and language

physical coordination and confidence

attention and listening skills

imagination and creative thinking

social interaction and collaboration

Through these multi-sensory experiences, children develop the foundations for learning.

Every session follows a consistent and familiar structure, helping children feel confident as the adventure begins.

The train (at the beginning and end) acts like the bread in a sandwich, providing the familiar beginning and ending of each journey, with the adventure forming the filling.  This repeated structure supports:

anticipation and attention

memory and recall

confidence in participation

understanding of routine

The approach is intentionally designed to be structured yet playful, familiar yet imaginative, and guided yet responsive to children’s ideas

Predictable routines and repeated patterns are particularly valuable for young children and those with additional needs.

Little Magic Train supports key areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Communication and Language
Children develop listening, understanding and speaking skills through rhythmic storytelling and repeated language patterns.

Physical Development
Movement-based activities support coordination, spatial awareness and physical confidence.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Shared adventures support collaboration, participation and confidence.

Literacy
Story-based adventures encourage vocabulary development, storytelling, imagination and early engagement with narrative.

Mathematics
Adventures introduce counting, sequencing, patterns and spatial awareness through movement and playful exploration.

Understanding the World
Story journeys encourage curiosity about animals, environments, nature and the wider world.

Expressive Arts and Design
Music, movement and imaginative storytelling support creativity, role-play and self-expression.

Little Magic Train also supports priorities within the SEND Code of Practice and Ofsted’s focus on communication, inclusion and high-quality early learning experiences.

Little Magic Train supports key Areas of Learning and Experience within the Curriculum for Wales.

Languages, Literacy and Communication
Children develop listening, understanding and expressive language through rhythmic storytelling, repeated language patterns and opportunities for language exploration within imaginative play.

Health and Well-being
Movement-based activities support coordination, spatial awareness and physical confidence while encouraging participation, emotional expression and positive social interaction.

Expressive Arts
Music, movement and storytelling encourage creativity and imaginative role-play, allowing children to express ideas and respond creatively to shared adventures.

Humanities
Story journeys introduce environments, animals and imaginative worlds, encouraging curiosity and exploration of the wider world.

Science and Technology
Adventures include exploration of nature, weather and simple cause-and-effect experiences that stimulate curiosity about how the world works.

Mathematics and Numeracy
Adventures often include counting, pattern recognition, sequencing and spatial awareness through movement and playful problem-solving.

Little Magic Train also supports priorities within the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) framework, encouraging inclusive participation, communication development and sensory engagement for children with a wide range of abilities.

Little Magic Train supports the Characteristics of Effective Learning described within the Early Years Foundation Stage.

These learning behaviours are also reflected in the play-based and exploratory approach of the Curriculum for Wales.

Playing and Exploring
Children investigate imaginative environments and engage with story-based experiences through curiosity, exploration and participation.

Active Learning
Repetition, rhythm and familiar routines support engagement, concentration and persistence.

Creating and Thinking Critically
Children contribute ideas, make connections and help shape the direction of the shared adventure.

Little Magic Train has been developed using principles from early childhood development, neuroscience and movement-based learning.

The programme combines movement, rhythm, repetition and storytelling to support how young children naturally learn. These elements engage multiple sensory systems, helping children to build connections between language, movement, attention and imagination.

Research in embodied cognition shows that physical movement supports cognitive development by engaging multiple brain systems simultaneously.

When children move while learning, they strengthen connections between language, action and memory, supporting deeper understanding and recall.

Research references: Glenberg (2010) Shams & Seitz (2008)

Repeated experiences strengthen neural pathways in the developing brain through a process known as myelination, where nerve fibres become insulated, allowing signals to travel more efficiently between brain cells.

Learning experiences that combine repetition, rhythm, movement and language help to reinforce these neural pathways. Over time, repeated participation in structured activities can support improvements in attention, memory and skill development.

Research reference: Coyle, D. (2009)

Research has shown that some children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) demonstrate differences in the development of neural pathways involved in language learning.

This highlights the importance of providing rich, repeated and multi-sensory language experiences in early childhood environments. Structured storytelling, rhythmic language patterns and shared participation can help children practise and strengthen communication skills within supportive learning experiences.

Research reference: Krishnan, Watkins & Bishop (2022), University of Oxford

Little Magic Train enables children with a wide range of communication abilities to participate in shared storytelling experiences.

Structured repetition and sensory engagement support children who experience challenges with:

expressive language

attention and regulation

social interaction

imaginative play

Practitioners report that children who previously required 1:1 adult support during group activities were able to participate more independently.

Little Magic Train also includes sensory storytelling experiences designed for children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD).

These experiences focus on:

sensory exploration

anticipation and routine

shared attention

cause-and-effect interaction

By ensuring each adventure can be experienced at different levels, the programme supports fully inclusive storytelling experiences.

Feedback from participating early years settings highlights how Little Magic Train supports children’s engagement, communication and confidence during group learning experiences.

Practitioners consistently reported that children who previously found it difficult to join group activities became more willing to participate, communicate and share ideas during Little Magic Train sessions.

Settings observed improvements in

engagement and sustained attention

communication and language use

confidence in group participation

imaginative play and storytelling

willingness to interact with peers and adults

These changes were particularly noticeable for quieter children and those with additional communication needs.

Many settings reported improvements in children’s communication skills, particularly through repeated storytelling, language, and shared imaginative experiences.

New Moston Primary School

“Children really improved in engagement and communication. All the children have really developed in attention during sessions.”

Soar Childcare and Education Ltd

“Those with communication difficulties had excellent repetition and therefore opportunities to practise skills over and over, which is often difficult in a busy day. It offers many chances for differentiation in communication and introducing new vocabulary.”

Practitioners also noted that children began using new words and ideas introduced during the adventures within other areas of learning.

Several practitioners reported that children who were initially hesitant to join group activities became more confident participants over time.

Kennington Pre-School

“Children were more likely to join in with adults and others.”

Wootton and Dry Sandford Preschool

“We have a few children who do not engage in any activity, but when we do the Magic Train, they are fully engaged and join in. Little Magic Train is great for bringing out confidence in shy children.”

Practitioners also observed that children increasingly contributed their own ideas to the storytelling adventures, helping shape the direction of the shared narrative.

Settings shared examples of how individual children developed confidence and communication through repeated participation.

New Moston Primary School

“At the start of the sessions, one of our children joined in for only a few seconds and needed 1:1 adult support. Now he asks for Little Magic Train, sits with his train ready and confidently joins in independently for the whole session.”

Confidential Setting

“One child now comments on what he can see on the journey. We placed pictures of planets around the room and as we pass them  he now says ‘I think I can see Saturn’.  This child had very little language 1–2 years ago.”

These examples demonstrate how repeated storytelling experiences can support children in building confidence, language and participation over time.

Practitioners consistently described Little Magic Train as a valuable and engaging learning experience that supports communication, confidence and participation for a wide range of learners.

Educators highlighted how the adventures capture children’s attention while also supporting speech and language development, imaginative play and social interaction.

Buttercups Montessori Nursery

“At Buttercups Nursery, our children absolutely love Little Magic Train! The imaginative adventures capture their attention from the very start.

The repetition of words and phrases supports speech and language development, and we have seen real progress in children’s confidence to communicate.

The system is easy to use, well organised and makes planning seamless.

Little Magic Train is a truly engaging, fun and educational resource that brings learning to life through movement, storytelling and play.”

School of Play, Manchester

“Outstanding! The Little Magic Train sessions offer great value for money and have added an extra dimension to our Early Years provision.

Gina delivers training with such passion and energy that you can’t help but be inspired to do the same with the children.

I would definitely recommend Little Magic Train.”

Across participating settings, 100% of respondents said they would recommend Little Magic Train to other early years settings.

Marcham Pre-School

Here at Marcham Pre-school, we have been using Little Magic Train with the children (aged 2-4) since 2012, and we always experience such engagement and joy from all the participants.

We have also led sessions within our Partnership with Marcham Primary School, which included children aged between 2 and 6.

We particularly enjoy the wide range of ‘adventures’ available that we can explore and find that the extension activities are a useful addition to our curriculum.

The children enjoy the routine of each session and know what to expect. We use the Little Magic Train session to encourage ‘school readiness’ skills by getting changed and practising taking off and putting on shoes, etc.

Gina and her team have always been fantastic at providing support, leading ‘sample’ sessions and answering any questions we may have.

We have had an extremely successful experience with Gina and the Little Magic Train…. including carrying out sessions over Zoom during lockdown when the schools were closed…. as well as presenting a session during an Ofsted Inspection (and receiving Outstanding!)

Little Magic Train is a versatile, detailed and engaging resource which I would happily recommend to any setting.

For more than two decades, Little Magic Train has supported educators in creating joyful, imaginative learning experiences for children.

From specialist movement sessions to a growing online library used across nurseries, preschools and schools, the programme continues to evolve in response to the needs of children and educators.

At its heart, Little Magic Train remains focused on what matters most: helping every child feel confident, included and excited to learn through movement, storytelling and shared adventures.

As new stories and experiences are developed, the Little Magic Train journey moves forward, supporting children to explore, imagine and learn together.

With Little Magic Train, every child is invited on the journey.