About OliTool

OliTool’s features and skills-building activities are evidence-based, drawing on multidisciplinary research from fields including child development, social and emotional learning, behaviour change and human computer interaction. 

OliTool Ltd. developed OliTool, based on participatory design methodologies, to provide an evidence-based tool that support children with special education needs and/or mental health challenges.

OliTool’s features and skills-building activities draw on research from the fields of education, child development, educational psychology, social and emotional learning and human computer interaction amongst others. 

OliTool Ltd’s Co-founders, Lisa Erickson and Deborah Werbner, both have degrees in Psychology. Lisa also has an MBA (Stanford University) and was a licensed Osteopath while Deborah has a Doctor of Jurisprudence (Northwestern University) and an MA in Art, Design & Visual Culture.

OliTool has been recognised for its innovative approach to improving childhood wellbeing and the teaching of social and emotional learning skills.

OliTool Ltd. received grants from Innovate UK and the NIHR and a ‘Seal of Excellence’ from the European Innovation Council for projects to develop OliTool.  In the summer of 2023, OliTool Ltd. was accepted onto the 1st cohort of the DOHE EdTech Accelerator and the 5th cohort of Women of Impact.

Evolution of OliTool

The development of OliTool began under the auspices of Ogenblik Ltd. The initial prototype for Olitool focused on wellbeing and anxiety reduction for adults. Development work began thanks to a grant from the Nominet Trust (now the Social Tech Trust). A small study was undertaken under the guidance of Professor Ed Watkins, Exeter University, which  demonstrated that OliTool, functioning as a smart ‘worry bead’, could be helpful to people in managing their worries and anxieties.

Upon the advice of various mental health professionals, we refocused our energies to develop OliTool®️ for children, especially those struggling with wellbeing issues and emotional and behavioural challenges. The co-founders were accepted onto the University College London (UCL) EDUCATE programme, helping EdTech companies implement evidence-based research to support their business and provide solid foundations to their ideas.

With a firm focus on OliTool for children, OliTool Ltd. was formed and awarded an Innovate UK SMART grant in 2019.  This grant enabled a prototype development of the OliTool system comprising a social and emotional learning app and a toy-like ‘smart’ device, Oli. OliTool was trialed in three English primary schools during the autumn 2020 term, to very positive results. A NIHR award, under the i4i programme Children and Young People's Mental Health, enabled OliTool Ltd. to redesign the OliTool system, 2022-2023.

The redesigned OliTool system, available on both iOS and Android tablets, is being piloted in cohort of English primary schools during the 2024 spring and summers terms. This pilot will be evaluated by Dr. Sveta Mayer from the UCL Institute of Education.

OliTool system safety:

Throughout the development of the OliTool system, OliTool Ltd. has worked with a qualified Clinical Safety Officer to oversee the compliance and assurance of the system is in line with best practice. A Clinical Safety Report Case was prepared to document the measures taken to comply with all required standards.  Similarly, a DTAC report (Digital Technology Assessment Criteria for Health and Social Care) was completed and will be updated on a regular basis.  As part of the Clinical Safety Report Case, OliTool Ltd.’s Clinical Safety Officer developed a hazard log (or risk register) to identify cause and effect of potential harm and unintended consequences with documented mitigations in place to deliver a clinically safe user experience.  These documents will be reviewed and updated as required but at least every year.  OliTool Ltd. also has a Data Protection Officer to ensure that OliTool meets all relevant data protection requirements. OliTool is registered with the UK ICO and is in receipt of the Cyber Essentials Certificate.