Schools in the UK are facing increasing pressure to provide meaningful support for students unable to attend school due to EBSA, all while managing tight financial constraints.

Fortunately, a cost-effective, scalable solution is already making a difference in over 1,700 schools.

Our telepresence robot, AV1.

In this post, we’ll break down the cost of AV1, compare it with traditional EBSA interventions, and explain why more schools, local authorities, and trusts are turning to telepresence technology to support student reintegration.

What Does EBSA Support Usually Cost?

1:1 Tuition

Cost Estimate: £30-£45 per hour

  • Highly effective for individual academic support
  • Becomes costly with multiple weekly sessions
  • Logistically demanding to schedule and deliver

Group Tuition

Cost Estimate: £15-£25 per session

  • More affordable than 1:1 tuition
  • Best suited for students comfortable in small group settings
  • Not suitable for those with severe anxiety or early-stage EBSA

Alternative Provision (AP)

Cost Estimate: £10,000-£25,000+ per year

  • Offers full-time placement outside mainstream school
  • Reintegration becomes more complex
  • Often exceeds what's necessary for students with moderate EBSA

AV1 Robot

Cost Estimate: £1.40 per day (three-year rental)

  • Keeps students connected to their own school community
  • Enables flexible, student-controlled engagement
  • Helps prevent escalation to full-time AP
  • Significantly more cost-effective and scalable

Why AV1 Works

AV1 allows students to actively participate in class from a safe space, whether at home or elsewhere. It does more than include them in lessons, it helps maintain their connection to school and peers when that link is critical to reintegration.

With AV1, students can:

  • Have a real presence in class using AV1’s facial expressions
  • Participate in group work and classroom activities
  • Engage in lessons by raising AV1’s hand
  • Switch to passive mode to observe quietly when needed

How AV1 Protects Student Privacy

Safeguarding and privacy are top priorities when using remote technology in schools. AV1 is built with strict data protection protocols to ensure student safety.

AV1 gives students full control over how and when they participate, without ever compromising their privacy or that of their peers.

It protects students by:

  • Undergoing annual security testing by PwC’s expert Red Team
  • Fully encrypting livestreams between student devices and AV1
  • Blocking screenshots and recordings entirely

Why UK Schools Are Choosing AV1

At just £1.40 a day, AV1 offers a sustainable solution that doesn't strain your budget. Schools using AV1 have reported:

  • Over 70% of students successfully returning to in-person education with AV1’s support
  • 78% of teachers noting improved student participation
  • 97.3% cost savings when compared to 1:1 tuition, reported by Southend-on-Sea Council

Want to Learn More?

Curious how AV1 could support your students?