Using public transport is an activity that many of us take for granted but it can be a real challenge fraught with anxiety for young people with additional support needs (ASN).
That was the case for pupils at Sanderson High School in East Kilbride, an ASN educational establishment that has embraced the latest technologies to tackle the issue.
The results were impressive with a notable increase in the confidence levels of students who used buses to get to school leading to national recognition in a prestigious Scotland-wide awards scheme.
The Independent Travel initiative involved a co-design partnership that utilised wearable, location-enabled GPS pendant devices and the Archangel platform.
With the devices linked to the platform, teachers and parents can use maps to track the location of the children for reassurance and safety. The devices also featured an SOS button, enabling direct communication between the child and their teacher in times of distress.
As part of a “Wider Achievement Programme”, pupils were gradually introduced to public transport whilst wearing the devices. The devices increased the confidence of pupils by allowing the school to incrementally build independence one bus stop at a time.
Sanderson High School has witnessed a remarkable 50% increase in the number of alumni who could now travel on public transport confidently and independently, a testament to the program’s success.
Archangel CEO Tom Morton commented: “The partnership has delivered a unique service and positive impact on the wellbeing and confidence of pupils using public transport and highlights the versatility of digital monitoring and its application within an education setting.
“The service is now also available through an app for smartphones offering even greater discretion and inclusion for pupils.
“The new headteacher is keen to expand on the service by using the app. This offers long term, co-design potential that will ensure the project continues to expand and evolve and makes it easily scalable for other schools and colleges.
“Another key consideration is that existing travel costs are frequently identified as having a significant impact on cash strapped education and social care budgets with increased public transport use reducing the pressure on those budgets.
“This ingenious approach to managing safety and enhancing pupil confidence delivers a better way,” added Tom.
The success of the school’s “Wider Achievement Programme” has also resulted in the development and introduction of an SQA ‘Independent Travel’ qualification which has been welcomed by parents, teachers and pupils alike.
The collaboration was also recognised with Sanderson High School being named a finalist in the ‘Empowering Children and Young People Award’, part of the Holyrood Digital Health and Care Awards. The awards recognise organisations that effectively use digital solutions to engage and support children and young people and empower them to make positive decisions about their health and wellbeing.
The partnership between Sanderson High School and Archangel demonstrates how innovative digital solutions can transform the lives of individuals with additional support needs. By addressing the unique challenges faced by pupils, the Archangel platform, pairing with GPS devices or Apps such as the Freedom App is evolving to not only enhance their safety while travelling but also fostering greater independence, confidence and life skills.
The collaboration serves as a model for leveraging technology to empower children and young people, ultimately improving their health, wellbeing and access to opportunities for growth.
This is another example of the benefits of working with Archangel. Find out how you can become an Archangel Certified Partner here: https://www.archangel.cloud/partnerships/
Find out more by reading our Independent Travel Product Profile or our Sanderson Case Study.