The Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust

Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust, based in Somerset, comprises 7 academies across all ages, from 4 to post-16.

After starting with 10 AV1s back in January 2020, they now have 15 AV1s which they use to support students with a variety of different educational circumstances.

Lead SENCO, Eleanor Webber manages the use of AV1 at the Trust. She explains how it helps a range of pupils.

“We have some using it just 1 day a week and some 5. This varies from children in post operation or requiring medical treatment, to anxiety or school refusal, where a graduated, step-by step return has helped pupils back into school. One student has a condition where coming to school every day can be tiring, so they access learning every day, but part-time remotely with AV1.

We even use AV1 on site, for those who struggle with large, busy, sensory overload environments. A pupil can be in a safe space or room within school, and access an AV1 in their regular classroom.

For some it is not the right solution, but for others it’s absolutely been their saving grace, and has allowed them to have that access to learning, access to peers, whilst they are going through a very tricky time in life."