Don't wait for September.
Get ahead of it
For pupils navigating SEND, anxiety, or medical-related absence, the start of the new year is a high-risk moment. Schools with a proactive - not reactive - inclusion plan are the ones that make a real impact. It is also what Ofsted wants to see.
Reactive measures are not an inclusion strategy
Every September, the same pattern repeats. A pupil is absent. The school responds. Referrals are made, plans are written, and weeks pass. By the time support is in place, attendance has already compounded into a crisis.
For children with SEND, this is felt even more acutely.
The new Ofsted inspection framework and 2026 SEND Reforms no longer accept attendance data as evidence of inclusion. Inspectors now look for meaningful access: pupils who cannot attend in person still experiencing the curriculum and peer relationships.
That requires provisions that are already embedded before a child's first absent day. You cannot retrofit inclusion.
"A child who misses the second, third and fourth day of a new term was predicted to have an overall absence rate of 43% – 30 days across that term." – Children's Commissioner, 2026
New standards mean schools are no longer judged solely on overall attendance percentages
Ofsted Inclusion Framework
Inclusion is now a distinct inspection area. Schools must demonstrate meaningful access to the curriculum for all learners — not just adequate attendance figures. Barriers to learning, belonging, and behaviour are inspected as a coherent picture.
SEND Reforms
The new 3-Tier waterfall of support means schools must evidence that Tier 1 (universal) and Tier 2 (targeted) support have been fully explored before moving to Specialist Tier 3. Individual Support Plans (ISPs) are now a legal requirement for all SEND pupils without an EHCP.
Attendance Baseline Improvement Expectation (ABIE)
Alongside the Ofsted shift, the DfE continues to mandate improved attendance. Schools are expected to hold both pressures simultaneously: drive up attendance, and demonstrate holistic inclusion for pupils for whom full attendance is not possible.
A bridge, not an add-on
AV1 is a telepresence robot that gives an absent pupil a physical presence in the classroom - seeing, hearing, and participating in lessons in real time. By maintaining connection, AV1 robots protect the pupil’s sense of belonging and prevent the social isolation that makes returning to school so difficult.
Proactive Early Intervention
The most effective way to meet the SEND reforms and ABIE roadmap is to act before absence becomes a crisis. AV1 is deployed as soon as signs of disconnect occur, before patterns form, before peer relationships erode, and before anxiety takes hold. The AV1 acts as a powerful Tier 1 or 2 intervention, providing the "targeted support" required before a pupil reaches the specialist Tier 3. This is the distinction between a proactive inclusion strategy and a reactive recovery plan.
Defensible Inspection Evidence
Every AV1 deployment creates a clear measurable trail of inclusion evidence for the Ofsted Inspection Framework: hard data on days of curriculum access maintained, pupil engagement, and reintegration outcomes. With 77.9% of pupils using AV1 returning to full-time classroom attendance, the AV1 proves that your inclusion strategy works. Schools can present this data directly to Ofsted as evidence of a meaningful inclusion strategy.
Results schools can show to inspectors
AV1 is used by over 4000 schools across the UK and internationally. The outcomes are consistent: maintained curriculum access, improved reintegration rates and, critically, data that SENCOs can put in front of an inspector.
How Schools are Using AV1 Robots
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"We've used AV1 as part of our early intervention approach for pupils with anxiety. It keeps them connected to their class, their friends, and their learning - before absence becomes a pattern."
"AV1 has been transformational for us. It's not just about attendance - it's about belonging. Children who couldn't face school can still be part of their classroom community."
“It’s taken away the discomfort and anxiety that stopped him engaging with learning,” Sarah explains. “He knows he has a backup. If he becomes overwhelmed, he can still stay connected.”
Get ahead of September with AV1
Our Summer Offer is designed to help you secure your inclusion infrastructure now, ensuring your school is ready before the rush of the new school year.
By purchasing before 30 June 2026, your robots will be delivered and set-up, with your staff onboarded and trained before the first day of term.
Simple pricing with no hidden extras
Benefit from specially priced school packages: Starter, Core and Whole School.
Act early to secure savings
Deploy your AV1s now, and we will cover the cost of the summer holidays; your package runs from purchase through to September the following year.
Guaranteed readiness
Full onboarding and support from our team of education and SEND specialists in Customer Success to ensure you are ready from Day 1.
Get in touch for a quote
Download our free one-page checklist: the key provisions, evidence requirements, and Ofsted-readiness criteria every SENCO should have in place before the new academic year begins
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How do I know AV1 actually works in a school like mine?
AV1 is used in almost 2,000 schools in the UK alone - in academies, mainstream primaries, secondaries, specialist provision, and pupil referral units. The reasons schools use it vary: long-term medical absence, EBSA, SEND reintegration, mental health-related non-attendance and others. If you'd like to see how schools similar to yours have approached it, our case study library covers a range of settings, year groups, and use types.
I work in a secondary school. Who moves the robots between classrooms?
AV1 robots are designed to be portable, and can be carried between lessons by a buddy or learning support assistant.. Find more guidance and testimonials from other schools in this article.
We've never used AV1 before. How easy is it to get started?
AV1 is ready to use right away upon delivery. Log in details will be provided upon placing your order, while our helpful training videos and resources hosted in AV1 Academy will tell you everything you need to know. In addition you will have access to our Customer Success team of education and SEND experts to help you through every step of the way.
Can AV1 be used as evidence in an Ofsted inspection?
Yes. AV1 generates impact data and supports the specific strands inspectors now evaluate under the new framework: curriculum access, attendance, and meaningful inclusion for pupils who cannot be physically present.
What if a robot develops a fault mid-term?
Your Service Package includes up to two no-quibble replacements per year. If an AV1 requires maintenance, we replace it immediately with minimum disruption to the pupil.
Can we speak to someone before ordering?
Absolutely. Use this form to book a consultation with our team.
How do I know who is watching through AV1 on the other end?
This one-way camera removes the pressure of being visible and allows the student to participate at their own pace, without feeling like the focus of attention. AV1 has been built with robust security measures to ensure that the classroom stream is only accessed by the intended student. Learn more.
