Using SpektraBot for graduated approach support
How to use SpektraBot to plan interventions, track progress through the assess-plan-do-review cycle, and build evidence.
Using SpektraBot for graduated approach support
The graduated approach is the framework schools use to identify and support children with SEN. It runs in a cycle: assess, plan, do, review. SpektraBot can help at every stage of this cycle, from choosing the right interventions to writing up the review.
The cycle, briefly
If you are already familiar with the graduated approach, skip to the next section. If not, here is a quick summary.
- Assess: Identify the child's needs. Use classroom observation, assessment data, and input from parents and other professionals.
- Plan: Agree what support the child will receive, who will provide it, when, and what outcomes you expect. Write this into a SEN Support plan.
- Do: Deliver the intervention or adjustment. The class teacher remains responsible for the child's progress, even if a teaching assistant delivers some of the support.
- Review: At the end of the agreed period (usually one term), review whether the intervention worked. Did the child make progress? Do you need to try something different?
Then repeat.
How SpektraBot helps
During assessment
Ask SpektraBot for help identifying needs:
- 'A Year 4 child is struggling with reading. They can decode but cannot understand what they have read. What assessment tools should I use?'
- 'How do I assess whether a child's behaviour is related to their SEN?'
- 'What does a good initial assessment look like for a child with suspected dyscalculia?'
During planning
Ask SpektraBot for intervention ideas and help writing the plan:
- 'What interventions work for working memory difficulties in Key Stage 1?'
- 'Can you suggest a social skills programme for a Year 5 child with autism?'
- 'Help me write a SEN Support plan for a child with speech and language difficulties'
When asking about interventions, give SpektraBot the child's year group, their specific difficulties, and what has already been tried. The more context you provide, the more targeted the suggestions.
During delivery
SpektraBot can help with day-to-day strategies:
- 'What classroom adjustments help a child who is sensory-seeking?'
- 'How do I adapt my teaching for a child who processes language slowly?'
- 'What does a good visual timetable look like?'
During review
SpektraBot can help you write up reviews and plan next steps:
- 'Help me write a review of a 12-week phonics intervention that showed limited progress'
- 'The intervention did not work. What should I try next?'
- 'How do I evidence that SEN Support is not sufficient and an EHC needs assessment is needed?'
Building evidence for EHC needs assessment
If a child is not making progress despite multiple cycles of the graduated approach, this is strong evidence for requesting an EHC needs assessment. SpektraBot can help you:
- Summarise what has been tried and why it has not worked
- Draft the school's contribution to an EHC needs assessment request
- Identify what additional evidence would strengthen the case
The SEND Code of Practice (paragraph 6.63) says that where a child has not made expected progress despite the school taking relevant and purposeful action to meet their SEN, the school should consider requesting an EHC needs assessment. The graduated approach evidence is what demonstrates 'relevant and purposeful action'.
Example questions by need type
| Need | Example question |
|---|---|
| Autism | 'What strategies help an autistic child manage unstructured time like lunch and break?' |
| ADHD | 'How do I help a child with ADHD stay on task during independent work?' |
| Dyslexia | 'What structured literacy programme should I use for a Year 3 child with dyslexia?' |
| Speech and language | 'A child in my class has a stammer. How should I handle whole-class reading?' |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 'A child is refusing to come into the classroom. What de-escalation strategies should I try?' |
| Physical disability | 'How do I adapt PE lessons for a child who uses a wheelchair?' |
Try asking this question in a chat:
“I'm planning the next cycle of SEN Support for a Year 2 child with attention difficulties. What interventions should I consider?”