Virtual buddy. Real difference. Virtual Buddy is a tablet and mobile application designed by an in-house team of students at Sutton Grammar School.
We aim to aid the teaching of those with learning difficulties in classrooms. Children with learning difficulties make up a significant portion of the UK’s student body, with approximately 10% of the population being affected with dyslexia and up to 9% being affected by ADHD. Additionally, up to around 10% of children suffer from dyspraxia, a form of developmental coordination disorder which can a
ffect perception, thought, organisation and planning, and in the most severe circumstances motor coordination difficulties. One in 1,000 babies born will be diagnosed with Down's Syndrome and about 18% of students have some type of Special Education Needs. These figures are estimates, however, the real figures may actually be higher as it is widely thought that many children with learning difficulties go undiagnosed. Virtual Buddy aims to help these students overcome their learning difficulties in particular as we believe in giving every student the opportunity to succeed. The main reason why teaching assistants can’t help all students that struggle in class is because there simply isn’t enough of them. The starting salary for a teaching assistant is between £12,000 to £17,000 a year, with the most experienced ones earning up to £22,000; so, it is understandable why schools can’t afford to support each and every student with learning difficulties. We do not wish to replace the teaching assistant, but instead provide further support in the classroom at a significantly lower cost. However, the Virtual Buddy app has a number features which can offer a wide range of educational aids, for only £X; which includes a complementary website, free of charge, with additional learning resources and features. Once you have bought Virtual Buddy, you own it for ever.
