Virtual Reality project for special needs students travel could have other uses
The trial project for pupils with special educational needs at Billing Brook School helped prepare them for solo bus travel.
Last updated 8th Aug 2025
We've been hearing how a virtual reality project helping special educational needs children to travel independently to school could possibly be used to build their confidence with other tasks.
Pupils with special educational needs are gaining confidence and independence through a pioneering immersive technology travel training project, by simulating real-life bus journeys.
West Northamptonshire Council is working in collaboration with Billing Brook School to support students transitioning from door-to-door transport to more independent group travel. The bespoke immersive technology and virtual reality (VR) content guides pupils through each step of the journey, from waiting at the bus stop to recognising landmarks, empowering them to travel with greater ease and assurance.
Kathryn Shaw is Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at West Northants Council shares how the tech maybe used to help children get used to other experiences:
"There'll be things such as like doctor's visits. There can be crowded spaces, transitions to new schools, and they're all colleges, you know, so it's preparing them before they get to real life living."
Of the 90 of the children who took part in the pilot 19 are now travelling independently and Kathryn says it's had great fedback
"The teachers and parents have reported huge confidence change their children, who initially froze at bus stops and are excited to travel. So it's it's it's really positive."
Cllr Richard Butler is Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport at West Northants Council and says though it's hard to quantify at this stage it could be a huge boost to their future confidence:
"I know if we intervene at the right time with this sort of project, the outcomes could be fantastically different for for them, when they get into outward."
Tom Callaghan is Head of Home to School Transport was at the immersive space where the trial took place and said the children were quickly on board with the virtual reality:
"There's some Ice Breakers there with punching and bursting balloons on walls and things like that, and literally within 5 minutes, those children would just want to get engaged immediately."
An open day at the school showcased the Immersive Hub and welcomed other SEN schools, parents, and university representatives to learn about the pilot.
West Northants Council say they're hopeful in future other schools might make use of this technology to help other special educational needs students.