Online learning provider, Gaia Learning, has secured its biggest investment to date landing £550K in venture capital funding this week, enabling them to support even more neurodivergent children across the UK.

The NW-based EdTech has just started its latest academic year, delivering live, online learning classes and courses for neurodivergent children aged 8-16 with ADHD and autism. International and UK enquiries are reaching record heights, with its latest investment allowing its continued growth nationally and internationally. 

“We’re so pleased to have our new investment partners on board and them acknowledging the potential in all we do at Gaia Learning to help school partners, learners and their families. We have tripled our learners this academic year, grown our team to 12 staff members and seen huge demand from children who are struggling in mainstream education. Now, more than ever, schools need flexible, digital solutions that can scale within budget supporting each neurodivergent child’s needs.”

Kate Longworth, CEO of Gaia Learning

Since 2019 Gaia Learning has gone from a small, specialist tuition business to an award-winning Cambridge Registered International School Online and the first online learning provider to be awarded the ADHD Friendly School award from the ADHD Foundation in 2023.

Nesta Impact Investments (Nesta) led the investment round with Manchester-based GC Angels also co-investing. Nesta brings both investment capital to support the business’ growth and strategic focus on narrowing the education outcomes gap.  GC Angels is focussed on making direct purpose led investments to support the growth of early-stage businesses like Gaia Learning.

“We backed Gaia learning as both a promising high growth business and as a solution to tackle the acute gap between education outcomes of students with special educational needs and the average. Students with an Education Health and Care Plan, who Gaia Learning typically supports, at a national level have outcomes at GCSE eight times worse than the average. One of Nesta’s key areas of focus is to narrow the education attainment gap and Gaia Learning provides a compelling solution to tackle this.”

Lisa Barclay, Executive Director of Investments at Nesta

“Gaia Learning is exactly what GC Angels is all about. The teams purpose-led approach is helping children who would otherwise be left behind in education to thrive, and the growth they’ve so far achieved is commendable. As the team continues to grow, and with enquiries on the up, we worked with Kate and the team to ensure Gaia Learning has the necessary investment and resources to drive further expansion and, ultimately, deliver incredible results for young people.”

Marc Shirman, Head of Investments at GC Angel

To find out more about Gaia Learning, visit www.gaialearning.co.uk .

About Gaia Learning
Gaia Learning, founded in 2019, is a pioneering online learning provider for learners aged 8-16 dedicated to neurodivergent children and committed to providing learning experiences that challenge, inspire and empower students.  The EdTech collaborates with schools, local authorities, multi-academy trusts, and parents electively home educating, utilising rich data insights to empower neurodivergent learners with the essential skills, neuroscience, and knowledge to succeed in the 21st century.

Kate Longworth, Gaia Learning’s CEO has as a mum of two of which one has PDA, seen first hand how important personalised learning is to helping them love learning and making it last.

In less than five years, Gaia Learning has gone from a small, specialist tuition business to an award-winning Cambridge Registered national alternative education provider helping families across the UK and beyond. To find out more visit: https://www.gaialearning.co.uk/.