Getting started as a teacher or SENCO
How to set up SpektraBot as a teacher, choose your role, and start asking questions about SEND support.
Getting started as a teacher or SENCO
SpektraBot is not just for parents. Teachers and SENCOs can use it to get quick, reliable answers about SEND law, the graduated approach, strategies for specific needs, and how to communicate with parents about difficult topics.
This guide will get you set up and show you what SpektraBot can do for you.
Setting up your account
Go to spektrabot.co.uk and join the waitlist from the homepage. Let us know you are a teacher or SENCO.
Once approved, you will receive an email with a link to set your password and create your account. See Creating your account for the full steps.
Once you are logged in, you will see the chat straight away. SpektraBot adjusts its responses based on your role, framing advice in terms of school responsibilities and good practice rather than parent rights.
Your account is private. SpektraBot does not share your conversations with parents, your school, or your local authority. It is a tool for your own professional development and day-to-day SEND queries.
What you can ask
SpektraBot is trained on the SEND Code of Practice, relevant legislation, and best practice guidance. Here are some things teachers and SENCOs commonly ask:
About specific children
- 'A child in my class has ADHD and keeps leaving their seat. What strategies can I try?'
- 'A parent has asked for an EHC needs assessment. What is my role in this?'
- 'How do I write a good SEN Support plan?'
About the law and your duties
- 'What are a school's legal duties under the Children and Families Act 2014?'
- 'Can I put a child on a reduced timetable?'
- 'What must I include in an annual review?'
About communicating with parents
- 'A parent is upset about their child's progress. How should I handle the meeting?'
- 'Can you draft a letter inviting parents to a review meeting?'
- 'How do I explain the graduated approach to a parent who wants an EHCP straight away?'
About the graduated approach
- 'What does assess, plan, do, review look like in practice?'
- 'What interventions work for dyslexia in Key Stage 2?'
- 'How do I evidence that SEN Support is not enough and an EHC assessment is needed?'
What SpektraBot is not
SpektraBot is not a replacement for proper training, your local authority's guidance, or your school's SEND policy. It is a quick-reference tool that gives you reliable information when you need it.
It cannot:
- Access individual pupil records
- Provide school-specific policy advice
- Give legal advice for specific cases (it can explain the law, but complex situations need proper legal guidance)
- Replace consultation with your local authority's SEN team
Tips for getting the most from SpektraBot
Be specific. 'How do I support a child with autism?' will give you a general answer. 'A Year 3 child with autism is struggling with transitions between lessons. What strategies can I use?' will give you targeted advice.
Ask for templates. SpektraBot can draft SEN Support plans, review meeting agendas, parent letters, and referral documents. Just ask.
Use it for professional development. Ask about topics you are less confident with: specific conditions, legal duties, assessment tools, or intervention strategies.
Share it with colleagues. If a class teacher asks you a question about SEND, show them how to get the answer from SpektraBot. It frees up your time and builds their knowledge.
Try asking this question in a chat:
“I'm a SENCO and I have a parent asking for an EHC needs assessment. What do I need to do?”