Overview
Wallsend Children’s Community (WCC) identified Magic Movers as a strategic opportunity to strengthen early intervention, parental engagement, and school readiness in a community where families can face barriers to confidence, connection, and support. WCC played a key coordinating role, connecting the school, delivery partners, and families, and ensuring the programme was aligned with local need, school plans and wider place-based priorities.
Drawing on its trusted relationships and local insight, WCC supported engagement with parents, strengthened collaboration with school staff, and embedded the programme within its wider Impact Assessment Framework to understand individual, relational, and systems-level change.
The Programme
In the first year, WCC delivered sessions with a group of parent/carers facilitating sessions of brain development specifically linking physical activity to brain development and readiness for school. At the same time Hellcats caried out physical activities with the children.
In the second year WCC introduced Little Big Mouth to facilitate the parent’s session. This allowed them to take a step back and support the collaboration when required.
Child sessions focused on movement, balance, sensory play, and outdoor activity to build confidence, coordination, communication, and emotional expression.
Parent sessions provided a safe, non-judgmental space for emotional wellbeing, peer support, and learning about child development and emotional regulation.
A key development the second year was the separation of parent and child sessions into different spaces within the school, allowing children to build independence and enabling parents to engage more openly in reflective discussion.
Impact on Children
Facilitators and parents consistently observed improvements in physical development, balance, confidence, and communication skills. One returning child demonstrated notable progress in speech and social interaction compared to the previous year. Another child, initially hesitant to separate from their parent, developed independence and confidence over time. Parents reported significant milestones, including learning to ride a bike and improved fine motor skills such as pen grip and coordination.
Impact on Parents
While parents initially joined to support their children, they reported unexpected personal benefits. The parent-focused sessions created space for open conversations about emotional wellbeing, reducing isolation and strengthening confidence. Parents formed supportive peer relationships, arranged playdates, shared advice outside sessions, and increased engagement with school life. All three parents went on to become Wallsend Community Champions, reflecting sustained commitment to community involvement.
Relational and Systems-Level Impact
WCC’s early facilitation led to significant relational shifts within the host school. Staff engagement increased, curriculum alignment improved, and communication between facilitators and school leadership became more collaborative. As understanding of the programme’s value deepened, school staff support strengthened, resulting in the renewal and embedding of Magic Movers within the school’s approach.
Importantly, WCC’s model demonstrates the value of acting as a convenor rather than a permanent provider. By investing time upfront to build partnerships, share learning, and align goals, WCC has created the conditions for sustainability. The programme’s recognition through Rise’s Opening School Facilities programme and its feature on the School North East Podcast further illustrate its growing influence and transferability.
Sustainability and Legacy
Magic Movers shows that when WCC acts as a facilitator, strengthening collaboration between families, schools, and community organisations, it can gradually step back while leaving a resilient, community-owned model in place. The combination of parental empowerment, strengthened school relationships, and embedded practice ensures that the impact extends beyond direct delivery.
This case demonstrates that strategic early investment in partnership building is critical to creating sustainable, community led change.
