What Now Press Play does

Now Press Play is a UK-based social enterprise founded in 2012 that delivers immersive audio learning experiences to primary schools. The company's core offering is a platform of 120+ curriculum-aligned audio adventures spanning History, Geography, Science, PSHE, RE, MFL, and Literacy, designed for children from Nursery (Early Years) through Year 6 (Key Stage 2). Children wear wireless headphones and step inside curriculum topics by acting out audio stories as the main character. The underlying technology combines proprietary audio production, a web and mobile application (iOS/Android), and wireless headphone hardware with individual volume control enabling full participation for pupils with auditory processing difficulties, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities. The company addresses engagement gaps, SEND inclusion challenges, vocabulary deficits, and limited life experiences for disadvantaged pupils in mainstream primary education.

The product portfolio includes the main now>press>play Immersive Audio Experiences platform, the PSHE with Leena & Zach module focused on mental health, anti-bullying, and online safety, over 500 follow-on resources (including oracy activities, reading comprehension, and writing opportunities), and supporting hardware. Distribution is sales-led, centered on free Taster Week trials, live demonstrations, and dedicated Customer Success Managers who provide curriculum mapping, training, and account management. Multi-Academy Trust group pricing for trusts of 3+ schools targets larger deployments, with LEO Academy Trust cited as a flagship partner using the platform across 12 schools since 2019.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual school subscriptions priced at approximately £125/month or £1,499 per year for a 1-form entry school (210 children), equating to roughly £1.06 per child per Experience. Schools can fund subscriptions through Pupil Premium, Sports Premium, and Curriculum Enrichment Budgets. The company states that more than 500 UK primary schools use the platform and has received recognition from HundrED, BETT, Education Alliance Finland, ERA, Arts Council England, and BESA, among others. The company is registered in England as Now Press Play Limited (company number 08031358) and operates as a purpose-driven social enterprise rather than a shareholder-maximizing entity.

Name

Now Press Play

Legal name

Now Press Play Limited

Website

https://nowpressplay.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Now Press Play is a UK social enterprise delivering 120+ curriculum-aligned immersive audio adventures to primary schools via wireless headphones and a web/mobile app, serving 500+ schools through annual subscriptions at approximately £1,499 per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education Technology

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224)

akta.pro primary industry

Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Children’s Audio Publishing (Audiobooks & Podcasts) (MPAJAFAI), Digital/Interactive SEL Apps & Media for Early Childhood (EDACAOAL)

Keywords

• Immersive audio learning
• Primary school curriculum
• Educational audio experiences
• Wireless headphone learning
• PSHE audio adventures

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. School Subscription: Schools pay a subscription fee for access to the full library of immersive audio experiences. Pricing is approximately £125/month for a 1-form entry school (£1,499 per year for 210 children), providing access to 120+ curriculum adventures with follow-on resources, teacher training and dedicated account management included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Now Press Play provides an immersive audio learning platform for UK primary schools (Nursery through Year 6). Children wear wireless headphones and step inside curriculum-aligned audio adventures spanning History, Geography, Science, PSHE, RE, MFL and Literacy, supported by 500+ follow-on resources. Schools access the platform through an annual subscription with a free Taster Week trial.

Product overview

Now Press Play is a UK-based educational social enterprise offering immersive audio learning experiences for primary schools (Nursery through Year 6). The core offering is a platform of over 120 audio adventures where children wear wireless headphones and act out curriculum topics as the main character. The portfolio includes the main now>press>play Immersive Audio Experiences platform (accessed via web and mobile app), the PSHE with Leena & Zach module for personal development topics, and supporting Follow-on Resources for literacy and oracy. Additional offerings include Live Lessons & Events and hardware (wireless headphones). Schools access the service through a subscription model with a free Taster Week trial. Content covers History, Geography, Science, PSHE, RE, MFL, and Literacy aligned to the UK National Curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PSHE with Leena & Zach: A multi-part series of immersive audio adventures featuring two contrasting friends, Leena and Zach, that help pupils explore big PSHE topics like mental health, bullying, and online safety.

Products and services

• now>press>play Immersive Audio Experiences Subscription-based immersive audio learning platform offering 120+ curriculum-aligned audio adventures for children from Nursery to Year 6. Delivered via wireless headphones and a web/mobile app, with follow-on resources, curriculum mapping, teacher training, and dedicated account management included.
• Live Lessons and Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of teachers say it includes every child in the class
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National GridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNow Press Play partnered with National Grid to create an Experience in conjunction with the company, supporting curriculum objectives while providing real-world industry connection for pupils.
• LEO Academy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEO Academy Trust has been using now>press>play since 2019 across 12 of their schools. The trust has worked closely with Now Press Play to map Experiences to curriculum areas and develop trust-wide implementation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Twinkl: Subscription-based educational resource publisher serving UK primary schools with curriculum-mapped teaching materials. Direct peer because it competes for the same discretionary UK primary curriculum budget and shares the same buyer (school leaders), though delivery is digital/printable resources rather than immersive audio.
• Oak National Academy: Government-backed online classroom with curriculum-mapped lessons across primary subjects. Direct peer because it competes for the same UK primary curriculum slot with free content, putting pressure on NPP's subscription value proposition.
• BBC Bitesize: Free curriculum-aligned primary content from the BBC covering core subjects including audio/video learning. Direct peer due to same UK National Curriculum alignment and free price point for the same teacher audience.
• Pobble: Primary literacy platform giving pupils a real audience for their writing. Direct peer in targeting the same primary curriculum budget to boost writing, oracy and engagement in KS1/KS2 classrooms.
• Hamilton Trust: UK primary school subscription resource providing lesson plans and activities mapped to the National Curriculum. Direct peer competing for the same UK primary curriculum budget on curriculum-mapped planning and resources.

Broad incumbents

• Discovery Education (Espresso): Established curriculum content platform widely used in UK/US primary schools. Broad incumbent offering curriculum video, activities and lesson plans — competes for the same school-leader wallet but with a much larger content surface and global footprint.
• Kahoot!: Public EdTech platform for engaging classroom learning via gamified content. Broad incumbent with overlapping use case (primary classroom engagement), though NPP's audio-led curriculum approach differs structurally.
• Promethean: Established interactive-display and classroom software vendor widely used in UK primary schools. Broad incumbent with overlapping reach into UK primary classrooms and competition for school capital/CPD budgets.

Regional players

• LGfL (London Grid for Learning): UK regional schools' broadband and content consortium providing curriculum resources to member schools. Regional player competing for the same school subscription wallet in the UK, particularly London-area MATs and schools.

Emerging players

• Numberblocks (Alphablocks): BBC/education audio-visual learning content including blocks-based numeracy and literacy series used in primary classrooms. Emerging player with overlapping audio-led engagement model but narrower subject coverage (maths/literacy only).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nowpressplay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nowpressplay1
• Facebookfacebook.com/nowpressplay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/now-press-play
• Instagraminstagram.com/nowpressplay1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Now Press Play