A former teacher from Hull who developed a software platform to help children speak and write more confidently has raised £250,000 from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance.
Chris Williams’ Chatta system is already used by almost 100 schools worldwide and has been named as one of the world’s best innovations of its type by the global education charity HundrED.
Chatta, which is available free of charge to parents during the lockdown, uses pictures to engage children in conversation and develop their language and literacy skills.
The platform is based on techniques developed by Williams during his career as a special needs teacher, and later working with Hull City Council to find ways to improve children’s language skills.
Around a third of children aged five are behind expected levels of attainment in spoken language, which experts believe is due to families talking less because of computer games and social media. Chatta helps overcome digital distractions and promote conversation.
Williams launched Chatta in 2013 and now runs the Hull-based business with software specialist David Waring, who is the company’s CEO.
As part of the deal, the company has appointed David Rasche, founder of insurance software specialist SSP, as chairman. The funding will allow them to further develop the software and expand in international markets.
Williams said: “Talk is the link between thinking and writing – if a child can’t say it, they can’t write it. Chatta creates opportunities to share stories and conversations within families and in schools. It gives children the confidence to speak to any audience and enhance their writing and vocabulary. In some cases parents tell us they’ve never before seen their child so strongly engaged with learning.”
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
