Choose AI tools with confidence
AI is appearing in more learning tools every month. This pathway gives parents a clear, practical process for judging any AI tool — before you sign up, before you pay, and before you hand it to your child.
Is this tool helping my child learn or doing the learning for them?
The AI learning tool buying journey
Most parents go through the same six stages when a new AI learning tool enters their family's life. This pathway helps you ask the right questions at every stage — so you stay in control of what your child is using.
Discovery
You hear about a tool or your child asks to try it.
Pre-engagement
You look at what the tool claims to do.
Before sign-up
You check the terms, privacy policy, age rules, and data use.
First use or free trial
You watch how the tool behaves in real learning.
Payment decision
You decide whether to pay, pause, limit, or stop.
Long-term use
You review whether the tool is still helping.
- What is this tool really for?
- Who is meant to use it?
- What information does it collect?
- Does it help with thinking before providing answers?
- Can my child explain what they have learned?
- Can I see what help the tool gave?
- Does this fit school expectations?
- What would make us stop using it?
What is the Choosing AI Tools pathway?
An 6-lesson programme for parents of children aged 5–12 who want to judge AI learning tools wisely. You don't need to be a technical expert. You need a clear process for asking the right questions at the right time.
🔍 Beyond the marketing claims
AI learning tools promise personalised learning, instant support, and easier homework routines. They may also collect data, give unreliable answers, encourage too much dependence, or make it harder to see what your child has actually understood. This pathway helps you look past the claims.
- 📋 Evaluate any tool - a repeatable process that works for maths apps, writing tools, tutors, and more
- 🔒 Check privacy and data - understand what a tool collects about your child before you sign up
- 👁️ Watch for dependency - spot the signs that a tool is replacing your child's thinking, not supporting it
- 💬 Use AI as a parent - use a free chatbot to scrutinise app claims, compare tools, or build a trial checklist
- 📅 Review long-term - know when to keep a tool, limit it, or stop it altogether
You don't need to become a tech expert
You need a clear process for asking the right questions. By the end of this pathway, you'll have a simple way to decide whether any AI learning tool is suitable for your child, your family, and the kind of learning you want to protect.
This is a skill you'll use many times as your child's education moves on and their learning needs change.
Who is this pathway for?
Parents of children aged 5–12 who want to make better decisions about AI learning tools — without having to become technology experts to do it.
🛍️ Parents whose child has asked to try a new tool
If your child is asking about an AI homework helper, maths app, or writing tool, this pathway gives you a clear process to evaluate it before you say yes, no, or let's try it.
🏫 Parents Looking To Support Their Child's Learning
The right AI app can support progress or overcome challenges. The wrong choice could actually hold learning back.
💸 Parents paying for a tool they're not sure about
If you're already subscribed to an AI learning tool and you're not confident it's actually helping your child learn, this pathway helps you evaluate it honestly and decide what to do next.
An important note on age: For children aged 5 to 12, any use of general-purpose AI should be adult-led, directly supervised, and limited. The aim of this pathway is not to hand over learning to AI. The aim is to help you make thoughtful choices, protect your child's privacy, and keep real learning at the centre.
What you'll learn
Each lesson is practical and focused on a real decision point that parents face. Lesson 1 is free. Your progress is saved so you can work through at your own pace.
What has caught your attention?
Deciding whether an AI learning app is worth looking at more closely.
DiscoveryDoes This app Fit Your Child’s Learning Need?
Checking the purpose, claims and features before signing up.
Pre-engagementWhat Are You Agreeing To?
Understanding terms, privacy, age rules and data use.
Before sign-upDoes It Help Before It Answers?
Watching whether the app supports learning or does too much.
After sign-upShould You Pay, Pause or Stop?
Deciding whether the app is worth keeping. .
Payment decisionIs It Still Helping?
Reviewing whether the app remains suitable, safe and useful.
Long-term useStart Lesson 1 free.
Full access from £14.99/month.
Register before launch to lock in the founding member price.
- ✓ All lessons of the Choosing AI Tools for Learning Pathway
- ✓ The six-stage buying journey framework - reusable for any tool
- ✓ Privacy and data checklists - know what to check before you sign up
- ✓ Free trial guides, get real information from any trial period
- ✓ Works with free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude
- ✓ Access to the Foundation, Healthy Learning, and SEND Pathways
- ✓ New content added as AILS grows
Frequently asked questions
You don't need any technical knowledge to follow this pathway — just a willingness to ask better questions before handing a tool to your child.
Do I need technical knowledge to follow this pathway?
No. This pathway is written for parents, not technology specialists. The first lesson introduces everything you need, and all examples use tools you already have access to for free.
What does it cost?
Lesson 1 is completely free with no payment details required. Full access to all 11 lessons costs £14.99/month — which also unlocks the Foundation, Healthy Learning, and SEND Parent Pathways. Cancel anytime.
What kind of tools does this pathway cover?
Any AI-powered learning tool - maths apps, reading tools, writing support, revision apps, creativity tools, homework helpers, and online tutors. The framework is designed to be reusable for any tool you encounter.
Which AI tools does the pathway use?
All lessons and workflows use the free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude as a parent support tool — for things like reading privacy policies or comparing app claims. No paid subscriptions needed.
What ages is this pathway for?
The pathway is designed for parents of children aged 5–12. The parent content is the same regardless of your child's age; the questions and examples are relevant across that range.
What is the founding member price?
Parents who register before launch pay £14.99/month and that price is locked in for as long as they stay subscribed. Once the pathway launches publicly, this price will no longer be available to new subscribers.
My child is already using an AI learning tool, is this still relevant?
Yes. The pathway includes lessons on long-term review and recognising when a tool you're already using is no longer helping. You can start at whichever stage of the buying journey you're currently in.
How long does each lesson take?
Each lesson is short and focused. Your progress is saved so you can work through the pathway at your own pace — or return to specific lessons whenever you're facing a new decision about a tool.
Know exactly what to look for
before your child asks again.
Lesson 1 is free. Register before launch to lock in the founding member price of £14.99/month and get a clear, reusable process for judging any AI learning tool that comes your family's way.
Start your free trial →