Your child doesn’t have to face school absence alone.
When a child can’t attend school due to illness, anxiety, or other challenges, the impact goes beyond missed learning. Disconnection from classmates, routines, and everyday moments can affect a child’s confidence and wellbeing – leaving families and caregivers to carry the weight.
Every child deserves a meaningful path to learning and a sense of belonging at school, even when being there in person isn’t possible.
Support exists to help your child stay connected.
When school becomes difficult to attend, many families worry about what their child is missing – not just lessons, but friendships, routines, and the feeling of being part of something bigger.
AV1 is a small telepresence robot that represents your child at school when they can’t be there in person. It allows them to follow lessons, see and hear their classmates, and take part in everyday school moments – on their own terms, and at their own pace.
For many families, AV1 becomes a gentle bridge, helping children stay connected during a difficult period, while supporting confidence, wellbeing, and a gradual return when the time is right.
When can AV1 help
Every child’s situation is different. Whether absence is linked to health, emotional wellbeing, or other circumstances, AV1 can help children and young people stay connected to learning and classmates – supporting confidence and continuity when they’re ready to return to the classroom.
Sometimes, children are supported in quieter spaces outside the main classroom when school feels overwhelming. In these situations, AV1 can help them remain part of their class while learning in a calmer environment.
AV1 is always introduced in collaboration with your child’s school and as part of a wider support plan.
Prolonged illness or medical recovery
When a child is recovering from injury, surgery, or long-term illness, AV1 can help them stay connected to lessons and classmates until they’re ready to return.
Emotionally based school non-attendance (EBSNA)
For children experiencing anxiety or distress related to school, AV1 can provide a safer first step – supporting connection while reducing pressure.
Special educational needs (SEND)
Some children benefit from a flexible, tailored approach to participation. AV1 can complement existing support plans and classroom adjustments.
Reintegration after absence
When returning to school feels overwhelming, AV1 can support a phased and gradual transition back into the classroom environment.
Displacement or temporary absence
In situations where a child is temporarily unable to attend their usual school, AV1 can help maintain continuity and connection.
Trusted by families, schools, and public services worldwide
Across the world, parents, schools and public services are using AV1 to help children stay connected to learning, friendships and everyday classroom life during periods of absence. Here are just a few examples of how AV1 has supported pupils and their families.
“He is connecting with his friends and teachers, laughing and joking. He even went to see the school play… We have gone from zero lessons before Christmas, to currently lessons in four GCSE subjects”
“The robot has made a huge difference for our son. Not only has he been able to keep up with his schoolwork in a new way, but it’s also helped him feel happier and more connected.”
“It’s the sense of safety and the relationship that matter the most. That’s what gives my child the confidence to take part.“
Steps for working with your child’s school
If you’re considering AV1 for your child, a good first step is a conversation with their school. AV1 is introduced in collaboration with the school and, in many cases, the local authority, as part of a wider support plan.
Starting the conversation can feel overwhelming. You don’t need to have all the answers – these steps can help you start the process clearly and constructively.
Contact the appropriate lead at the school
Start with your child’s class teacher, SENCO, pastoral lead, or a member of the senior leadership team. AV1 is typically discussed at leadership or SEN level, as it forms part of the school’s provision.
Outline the current challenge
Explain your child’s situation and the impact on attendance, wellbeing, and access to learning. Be clear about the goal: maintaining connection to learning and belonging to the classroom.
Share information about AV1
Provide your child’s school with clear, practical information about how AV1 works and how it is implemented. We’ve created resources you can share with them.
Agreed next steps
If the school feels AV1 could be appropriate, they can explore implementation in partnership with No Isolation. Funding decisions are typically made by the school or local authority as part of the agreed support plan.
Support for you – and for your child’s school
We’ve created practical resources to help you navigate the next steps with confidence – including guidance for you as a parent and clear materials you can share directly with your child’s school.
Everything is gathered in one place to support constructive conversations and coordinated plans.
Frequently asked questions
What is AV1?
AV1 is a telepresence robot that allows children and young people to take part in lessons when they are unable to attend school in person. It acts as the child’s presence in the classroom, helping them stay connected to learning, teachers, and classmates.
AV1 can be used during periods of illness, emotionally based school non-attendance, for reintegration, or when a child is learning in a quieter space within school.
Where does AV1 work?
AV1 is placed in the classroom, and your child connects to it securely through an app on a tablet. Through the robot, they can see and hear what is happening in class in real time, and participate by speaking or raising their hand digitally.
The child controls when they connect and can adjust sound and camera direction themselves.
Is AV1 secure and private?
Yes. Safeguarding and data protection are central to how AV1 is designed and used in schools.
AV1 is built with privacy at its core:
- Only one student can connect at a time, using a secure login code. When connected, it is visible in the classroom – so there is never any uncertainty about who is present.
- The livestream is fully encrypted end-to-end. Nothing is recorded or stored.
- Screenshots and screen recordings are blocked within the app.
- No personal data is collected about the student or their classmates.
AV1 is purpose-built for education settings and designed to protect both the child using it and everyone in the classroom.
Does AV1 replace teaching or other support?
No. AV1 does not replace teachers, learning support, or pastoral care.
It is a tool that helps maintain connection to the classroom while other support is in place. AV1 works alongside the adjustments, plans, and professional guidance already agreed for your child – whether that includes learning accommodations, wellbeing support, or a phased return.
Its purpose is to preserve access to lessons and relationships during a difficult period, not to substitute the role of educators or specialist services.
AV1 is most effective when used as a part of a wide support plan developed in collaboration with the school.
Is AV1 backed by research?
Yes. AV1 has been independently studied by multiple peer-reviewed academic publications and is used in thousands of real school settings worldwide.
Internal data from over 3,000 deployments (2025) shows:
- 77.9% achieved their intended goal
- 77.6% supported a return to in-person learning
Research and real-world outcomes consistently show that maintaining connection to learning and classmates plays an important role in reintegration and wellbeing.
How is AV1 introduced successfully?
AV1 works best when introduced in collaboration with the school and as part of a clear support plan.
No Isolation provides guidance and practical advice to schools to help ensure a smooth introduction and ongoing use. The goal is always to support continuity in learning and a safe pathway back to in-person learning when appropriate.
Ready to explore AV1 for your child?
If you’re considering AV1 as part of your child’s support plan, the Parent Toolkit brings together practical guidance, conversation starters, and school-ready materials to help you take the next step with confidence.