A BATTALION of lively robots were created in just four minutes by scientists, programmers and technicians of the future - with a little help from some world famous toy building bricks .

Children from schools across the region learned to build and programme robotic companions at the launch of Ayresome Park Primary’s Computing Lego Innovation Studio.

A pioneering partnership with Lego has allowed the Middlesbrough school to set a blueprint for creative play in schools across the North-East.

Phil Ainsley, the school’s director of computing education, is one of just four certified Lego trainers in the country.

Under his leadership, the school combines teaching with Lego tasks and challenges.

Mr Ainsley believes the construction toy can provide building blocks for the future when combined with the national curriculum.

He said: “It’s about creativity and independent thinking and is a fun way of learning that improves children’s outcomes.

“With three-year-olds, we will use it to teach them about shapes and colours while the older ones can create robots.

“When they see those robots move, there’s a genuine wow factor.”

The school’s head, Lisa Biggin, said Lego was being used successfully to boost attainment across the board.

Ms Biggin said it was a particularly valuable tool for the children who do not speak English as a first language.

She added: “We have 87 per cent of pupils who have English as an additional language.

“Lego is helping improve their progress, giving them the opportunity to express themselves and helping them to feel that they can achieve.

“We use it with our pupils from two-years-old – if their hands are on, their minds are on.

“Lego is a great way to develop pupils’ understanding of construction, electronics and robotics, and the impact on the school as a whole has been fantastic.”

Eight schools from across the region sent children to enjoy today’s event.

Ten-year-old Howwa Asad, from Middlesbrough, said: “It’s interesting learning how the robots work and how I can programme them in different ways.

Sidrah Akhtar, nine, added: “I like Lego because it’s really creative and I can make it into all sorts of things.”

Ayresome Park Primary pupil Finley Hugill said the best part of learning with Lego was not always having to follow instructions.

Last year, the school became the first in the North-East to launch its own Lego Education Innovation Studio.