In early years settings, children often show good levels of engagement in imaginative play, but may find it more difficult to extend and develop their ideas within shared experiences.

While children may enjoy storytelling and role-play, building on these ideas and sustaining engagement within group activities can present a challenge.

At Kennington Pre-School, practitioners were supporting a mixed-age group, with 90% of children in the setting taking part in Little Magic Train sessions.

Children showed good levels of confidence and engagement; however, this was sometimes limited, and they often struggled to build on and extend their play within group experiences.

That’s where Little Magic Train became part of their practice.

 

From the first sessions, children began to show deeper levels of engagement and focus.

What stood out most was the level of sustained concentration demonstrated by the children. They remained engaged throughout the sessions, showing increased attention to both the story and the movement.

Over time, this developed into something more significant.

  • From initial engagement to sustained concentration
  • From limited imaginative play to more developed storytelling
  • From short bursts of involvement to consistent participation

These changes were supported through a structured, multi-sensory approach that encouraged children to engage more deeply with the narrative.

 

Little Magic Train provides a consistent and familiar structure that supports children to build confidence and maintain focus.

Through repeated storytelling, movement and rhythm, children are encouraged to follow the narrative, respond to cues and actively participate.

The predictable structure helps children understand what to expect, supporting sustained attention and allowing them to engage more fully in the experience.

 

Impact on Confidence and Participation

Practitioners observed clear changes in children’s confidence and willingness to join in with others.

Children became more likely to participate alongside adults and peers, showing increased confidence in shared group experiences.

This shift was also reflected in children’s enthusiasm and the practitioner shared that what stood out the most was the children’s “engagement and concentration.”

 

Whole-Setting Impact

  • High levels of participation across the setting (90% of children)
  • Increased sustained engagement and concentration
  • More developed imaginative play and storytelling
  • Greater confidence in joining group activities
  • Increased enthusiasm and enjoyment of shared experiences

 

Practitioner reflection, “Fantastic support and super fun for all ages!”

This approach enables practitioners to

  • Support children to sustain attention within group activities
  • Develop deeper, more extended imaginative play
  • Encourage participation across a large proportion of the setting
  • Build confidence in shared learning experiences
  • Create engaging and consistent opportunities for development

This makes it both effective and sustainable within a pre-school setting.

 

At Kennington Pre-School, this meant children not only engaging in imaginative play, but sustaining their focus, extending their ideas, and participating more confidently within shared group experiences.

 

For settings accessing EYPP funding, this kind of impact is particularly significant.

  • Little Magic Train supports measurable progress in communication, engagement and participation.
  • It enables inclusive practice, aligns with Ofsted priorities around language and interaction, and provides a consistent, evidence-informed approach that can be embedded across the setting.
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