About AV1

AV1 helps local authorities, academies and schools bring learning and belonging to all children. Our education technology – AV1 Robots, the AV1 App, AV1 Admin and AV1 Academy – work together to support your absent students back to the classroom.

Illustrations of two students in a classroom interacting with an AV1 robot
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Background

Long-term absence from school has severe implications for children and young people and those in charge of their education.

It is the responsibility of local authorities and MATs to find suitable access to education for absent students, but they experience high demand on services, rising cases of school refusal, and budget constraints.

Schools are dedicated to supporting all students, but funding is stretched for alternative provision, low attendance is linked to poor attainment, and it can be difficult to reintegrate pupils after long absences.

For the students themselves, many want to engage with learning and their classmates. Anxiety around school attendance, or complex and chronic medical needs, may prevent regular in person lessons.

This is where AV1 comes in. We built AV1 robots for safe and secure classroom use from day one. Alongside our dedicated software and resources, AV1 helps you bring learning and belonging to all students.
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‍Here are some of the recorded reasons for successful use of AV1 by local authorities, academies and schools we work with.

AnxietyCerebral PalsyGastroschisisLong Covid
Autism spectrum conditionChronic fatigue / MEGifted studentsMuscular dystrophy
Autoimmune diseasesEmotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)ImmunodeficiencyPeriodic paralysis
BehaviourEhlers-Danlos syndromeInjurySpecial Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
CancerEpilepsyLearning difficultiesTransplants, surgery and operations
Example reasons for use

How AV1 Robots work

AV1 Robots are a telepresence solution for children and young people to access school and classroom settings from another location. It bridges the gap between home and school, provides access to learning, and improves attainment and progression.

Our classroom robots have a unique set of inclusive and secure features, giving the student a sense of belonging at school and the privacy and safeguarding they are entitled to. Head to the Safeguarding page for more privacy and safeguarding measures.

AV1 robot

Live connection

A camera and microphone connect absent pupils who can speak, see and hear everything through the robot. The camera is one-way, which removes the pressure of being seen for children who are ill, anxious or in pain.

Belonging

The robot is an avatar for the human it represents, so you can name it and customise it. You can carry it around with its handle or backpack to involve the student in all aspects of school life, or even on school trips. The physical presence means the student is not forgotten, even on days when they are too unwell to log on.

Participation

The student can rotate and move the robot, change the eye expressions, and 'raise their hand' by making the robot's head flash green. This means they can ask and answer questions, or show how they are feeling, without disrupting the lesson.

Fatigue-friendly

When a student is particularly unwell and unable to participate, but still wants to attend and listen to the lesson, they can turn the head light blue to indicate ‘passive mode’. For EBSA pupils, this can be helpful for early steps towards reintegration.

How the AV1 App works

The student downloads the free AV1 app onto their device; it is compatible with both Apple and Android devices (smartphones, tablets and some Chromebooks).

Students must then follow the onboarding process to register with their assigned robot for the first time. They generate a secret code during onboarding to connect with their robot whenever they want to start a livestream through it and join a lesson or activity; the robot just needs to be switched on.

From the app, they control their robot:
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  1. A camera, microphone and speaker on the robots head emits a livestream to the app, with two-way audio.
  2. The student swipes or taps on the app screen to rotate the robot and their view from side to side, up and down.
  3. Tapping passive mode turns the robots head blue.
  4. Tapping 'raise hand' makes the robots head flash green.
  5. Tapping each emoji is reflected on the robots eyes.
AV1 robot and a mobile presenting features of an AV1 robot through AV1 App

How AV1 Admin works

AV1 Admin is a portal which works on any web browser. It is easy to use, and its features are guided by the needs of municipalities and schools. On top of this, you get usage statistics for your AV1 Robots to see the impact you create for your absent students.

There are two access levels in AV1 Admin, Administrators and School Assistants.

As an Administrator, you get a dashboard and detailed information about all the AV1 Robots owned by your organisation, as well as all the same access as School Assistants.

As a School Assistant, your access level ensures you can get the robot set up, tested and running smoothly at school.

AV1 admin portal showcasing 2 access levels administrators and school assistants.

How to use AV1 Academy

Included in your purchase and/or subscription to AV1 is also access to a library of training materials and resources to help manage effective and safe use of AV1 (for example draft letters, risk assessments and policies for use).

We also support you at every step of the way, with extensive set up guides, help pages, a dedicated account manager and technical support available during normal business hours.

Go to AV1 Academy

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the most common questions we get asked. If you can't find what you are looking for, please get in touch.

Can AV1 school robots be used for children with EBSA and anxiety?

Yes, AV1 robots are successful for EBSA and anxiety in many cases. See our case studies page for examples.

I am a parent and am interested in an AV1 robot for my child. How can I access one?

Many municipalities loan AV1s to schools if they meet certain allocation criteria. Schools can also purchase AV1s directly from us – we recommend introducing them to it using our introduction video and safeguarding information.

Why is the camera only one-way?

AV1 classroom robots are designed for children and young people with long-term illness, other medical needs or anxiety. In most cases, they do not want the pressure of being seen.

Do I need any technical expertise to use AV1?

AV1 is very easy to use, and the robot should be treated like any other student in the class. The student just needs an internet connection and a smartphone or tablet, and there needs to be 4G or WiFi available at the school.

Do you do trials?

AV1 is available to rent, and there are pilot projects available. Head to our pricing page to see what we offer.

How do I know that no one else is watching or recording?

AV1 robots were built for classroom use and have many privacy and safeguarding features and measures in place. See our safeguarding page for more information.

Start improving school attendance today

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