DEVON County Council (DCC) have launched a pilot project using robots to help it understand how best to support young people who struggle to attend school because of anxiety.

As part of its commitment to think beyond barriers to support the aspirations of children and young people, DCC invested in 16 AV1 robots to help pupils who don’t feel able to be physically present in the classroom.

The robots are equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker so that pupils can see and hear what’s going in the lesson, and if they want to, join in activities, and interact with their class in real time from a remote location elsewhere on the school site or at home.

The pilot is taking place with sixteen pupils across five secondary schools in Devon, and the initial response has been positive, DCC says.

Kellie Knott, Devon County Council’s SEND Strategic Director, said: ‘Feeling included, supported and involved is important for our wellbeing as it helps us to connect with others, which builds a sense of belonging and self-worth.

‘But for some young people, feeling worried, anxious or overwhelmed can lead to difficulties in attending school or lessons, and so feeling disconnected can become a difficult hurdle to overcome.

‘We’ve made a commitment to ensure that every child in Devon has the tools and support they need to succeed, regardless of their circumstances, and these robots are a groundbreaking move towards understanding how we can improve inclusivity in our schools.

‘This technology helps break down barriers of isolation for pupils who are unable to be physically present in the classroom, creating a bridge that connects them to their school community in a way that means they can still interact, contribute if they want to, and feel part of it all.’

AV1s are made by a company called ‘No Isolation’.