Testimonials from OliTool User Trials

The OliTool system was trialed in three English primary schools during the autumn term 2020. User trial results were very encouraging. They demonstrated that all children loved using Oli and for a group of children there was a marked increase in self-esteem, independence and self-understanding. The feedback from children, teachers and SENCo provided the team with a rich source of data to develop a further iteration of OliTool, with a newly redesigned app, web portal and Oli design.

Children’s Feedback:

“It helps me to get rid of times when I'm sad or angry.”

“I think OliTool actually helped me a lot with building confidence.”

“You feel good when you use the green button or when you looked back and saw that you did. Because it  means ‘Yes I finally achieved the goal’.”

“I am less fidgety when I use Oli. I love having something special to use and I love working with it. I will track when I am frustrated.”

“It (Oli) gives me a bit of joy….” “Oli is my best buddy.”

SENCo Feedback:

‘’Oli is the physical acknowledgement that the child has been heard.  For the child, it embodies the fact that she is being listened to, building a relationship with their teacher, able to start taking some responsibility for herself.  OliTool helps build resilience.  It is very powerful.’’ 

‘’OliTool works not only for children who need extra behavioural support but also for children who slip beneath the radar, who we might unintentionally not pay as much attention to but we should.  So it can work for children at all ends of the spectrum.” 

 “It Is very difficult to pinpoint issues with a non-verbal child.  OliTool helped us do that.  We can see her feelings throughout the day and pinpoint her triggers.’’

‘’OliTool works well alongside existing programmes like anxiety  mapping because it provides child-initiated data rather than the teacher’s perspective, which might be inaccurate.”

Teacher Feedback:

“All the children loved Oli.  Physically interacting with Oli felt rewarding and stress reducing.  Children felt happiness, confidence and pride.”

“Pressing Oli’s buttons is perceived by the children as taking control of a situation and making a positive step to helping themselves.” 

“It was really useful, being able to look back and see those patterns as they emerged.”

“The act of making OliTool goals led to really good discussions and searching; those children wouldn’t ordinarily have wanted to have those conversations with me.”

“Spending time with the children and giving them feedback through Oli helped children’s self- esteem.  The child has definitely become more positively self-aware

and more independent.”

Behaviour Specialists Feedback:

“We need better evidence-based data to benchmark SEN pupil progress across the SEN spectrum. I’ve never seen anything like OilTool, it could signpost to adults where and when problems arise.”

“To be able to see data appropriately, to support and identify around periods of the day, could be a very effective intervention for SEN children.”

“Developing self-regulation, especially for children with ASD or ADHD, is critical.  OliTool is an interesting alternative.”