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Councils spend £3,500 each on classroom robots so anxious children can join lessons from home

From the Newshound archive · first published 20 September 2026 · last updated 21 September 2026.

An AV1 classroom robot, priced at £3,500, combines a camera, microphone and speaker so housebound pupils can see, hear and join lessons via an app — with a "whisper mode" allowing private exchanges with classmates.
An AV1 classroom robot, priced at £3,500, combines a camera, microphone and speaker so housebound pupils can see, hear and join lessons via an app — with a "whisper mode" allowing private exchanges with classmates.

At least 80 local authorities have bought the AV1 robot — made by Norwegian firm No Isolation and first commissioned by the Department for Education in 2019 — with more than 2,000 now placed in classrooms across England to stand in for pupils whose anxiety keeps them away from school. Devon County Council alone took on 16, citing students struggling with 'worry, anxiety and overwhelm'.

Priced at £3,500, each unit combines a camera, microphone and speaker, letting housebound children see, hear and take part in lessons via an app.

A 'whisper mode' lets the absent pupil have a private exchange with a classmate seated beside the robot, without the rest of the class being able to hear.

No Isolation says that this year three quarters of pupils who have used the robots — 76 per cent — have managed to come back to school.

MoreDaily MailVideo: Councils buy thousands of £3,500 ROBOTS so children can join lessons from home - Daily MailGB NewsCouncils shell out to replace anxious schoolchildren with £3,500 robots so they can join lessons from homeDaily Mail NewsCouncils buy thousands of £3,500 ROBOTS which 'represent' anxious schoolchildren in classrooms so they can join lessons from home
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