Using the chat well

SpektraBot is more useful the more you put into your questions. This guide covers the types of questions that work best, how to ask for template letters, and how to build on a conversation with follow-ups.

Types of questions that work well

Situation-specific questions

These get the most useful answers. Give SpektraBot the details of your situation and ask what to do.

• 'My son has autism and is in Year 5. The school says he is coping fine, but he comes home in meltdown every day. How do I raise this with the school?'
• 'The local authority issued a draft EHCP but Section F just says "access to speech and language therapy". Is that good enough?'
• 'My daughter's annual review was three months ago and nothing has changed. What can I do?'

Rights and entitlements questions

SpektraBot knows the SEND Code of Practice and relevant case law. Ask about your rights directly.

• 'Does the school have to follow the EHCP if they say they do not have the budget?'
• 'Can the local authority refuse to assess just because my child is making some progress?'
• 'What is the legal deadline for the LA to issue a final EHCP?'

Template letters and documents

SpektraBot can draft letters for you. Be specific about what you need and who it is going to.

• 'Write me a letter to the local authority requesting an EHC needs assessment for my child'
• 'Draft an email to the SENCO asking why the speech therapy in the EHCP is not being provided'
• 'Can you create a list of questions I should ask at the annual review next week?'

Explaining things simply

If you have read something and do not understand it, ask SpektraBot to explain.

• 'What does Section B of the EHCP actually mean?'
• 'Explain the graduated approach in plain English'
• 'What is mediation and do I have to do it before going to tribunal?'

How to ask for template letters

SpektraBot can produce ready-to-send letters. To get the best result:

1. Say who it is for: 'Write a letter to the local authority' or 'Draft an email to the head teacher'
2. Say what it is about: 'Requesting an EHC needs assessment' or 'Complaining that provision is not being delivered'
3. Include relevant details: Your child's name, school, and the specific issue

The letter will include the relevant legal references and follow a professional format. You can ask SpektraBot to adjust the tone, add or remove sections, or make it more formal.

Using follow-up questions

Conversations work best when you build on them. SpektraBot remembers everything you have said in the current conversation.

Good follow-ups:

• 'Can you explain that last point in more detail?'
• 'What evidence would I need to prove that?'
• 'Can you turn those steps into a checklist I can save?'
• 'What would happen if the school refuses to do that?'

Starting a new topic? You can stay in the same conversation or start a new one. Starting fresh is better if the topic is completely different, because SpektraBot will not mix up the context.

Uploading documents

You can attach files to your messages using the paperclip button next to the text box. SpektraBot accepts PDF, DOCX, PNG, JPEG, and TXT files. This is useful if you want to ask about a letter you have received or share a document for context.

For a detailed quality check of your child's EHCP, use the dedicated EHCP audit tool instead, which gives you section-by-section RAG ratings.

Things to avoid

• Very long messages: If your question is more than a paragraph, break it into separate questions. SpektraBot handles one thing at a time better than a list of ten.
• Asking for medical advice: SpektraBot knows SEND education law, not medicine. It will not advise on diagnoses, treatments, or medication.