Let's find the right setup for you.
A few quick questions so we can point you in the right direction. You can skip ahead at any point.
What kind of help do you need?
Pick whichever fits best, you can always come back
Help with paperwork
Forms, applications, appeals, letters
Ask a question
Rights, next steps, what to expect
Have you used AI chat before?
Like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or similar tools
I'm new to this
No worries, we'll explain everything
I've done this before
Take me to the tips
Have you used AI chat before?
Like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or similar tools
I'm new to this
No worries, we'll explain everything
I've done this before
Take me to the tips
What is an AI chat assistant?
Think of it like texting a knowledgeable friend. You type a question in plain English and it replies with helpful guidance.
It's not like Google. Don't just type keywords. Talk to it like a real person and give it details. The more you share, the better the help.
"DLA form question 26"
"I'm filling in the DLA form for my 7-year-old who has autism. Question 26 asks about help with washing and bathing. Can you help me explain what support he needs?"
Our SEND assistant knows about EHCPs, DLA, tribunals, school support, and more. It is based on real SEND law and processes for England.
Want more depth? Read our beginner's guide to AI.
Preparing your documents
- Gather everything relevant - education plans, local authority letters, therapy reports, school correspondence. The more context you share, the better the advice.
- PDF, Word, and images all work - you can upload files directly into the chat.
First time? See How to upload documents. - Using a free account? Free plans limit file uploads to about 3 per day. Use our free Doc to Text tool to convert your documents and paste the text in instead.
Getting the best results
- Be specific about what you need - "Can you check if my child's support plan covers the recommendations in this speech therapy report?" gets better results than a vague question.
- Ask for a review or comparison - it can review therapy reports, spot missing provision in education plans, check exclusion letters follow the rules, or help you draft complaint and appeal letters.
- Keep asking follow-ups - it remembers everything in the conversation, so dig deeper on anything that comes up.
? Using a free account? + −
The free plan works fine for basic questions, but has some limits:
- Only 10 messages every 5 hours with the best model
- About 3 file uploads per day
- Falls back to a simpler model once you hit the limit
If you hit the free limit, ChatGPT keeps working on a slightly simpler model - you won't be locked out.
We'd recommend ChatGPT Go (around £8/month, cancel anytime) as the sweet spot. You get roughly 160 messages every 3 hours and much more generous file uploads, which makes a real difference when working through SEND forms and documents.
ChatGPT Plus (around £20/month) adds full access to advanced tools and even higher limits, but Go covers most needs.
Use our free Doc to Text tool to convert documents first, then paste the text in. No file uploads needed.
Google Gemini is free with any Google account and has generous file upload limits.
? Don't have a ChatGPT or Google account? + −
Both are free and take about a minute to set up. Simply visit chat.openai.com for ChatGPT or gemini.google.com for Gemini to create your account.
Need a walkthrough? Read the step-by-step guide.
? Is my data private? + −
Your conversations go directly to ChatGPT or Google. We cannot see, access, or store anything you type or upload. The only connection to us is our knowledge base, which provides SEND guidance to help answer your questions, but receives no personal information.
For full details, see our privacy policy.
Or use Google Gemini instead (Google sign-in required)
This guidance covers England only. SEND law is different in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This is guidance, not legal advice. Always check important decisions with your local authority or a SEND specialist.
Tip: Need to share a document? Use our free Doc to Text tool to convert it first, then paste the text into the chat.
Get the best results
- Give it context - mention your child's age, diagnosis, and what stage you're at.
- Ask in your own words - "My child's been excluded and has ADHD, is that allowed?" works perfectly.
- Keep asking follow-ups - it remembers the conversation, so dig deeper on anything.
? Using a free account? + −
The free plan works fine for basic questions, but has some limits:
- Only 10 messages every 5 hours with the best model
- About 3 file uploads per day
- Falls back to a simpler model once you hit the limit
If you hit the free limit, ChatGPT keeps working on a slightly simpler model - you won't be locked out.
We'd recommend ChatGPT Go (around £8/month, cancel anytime) as the sweet spot. You get roughly 160 messages every 3 hours, which makes a real difference when working through SEND questions.
ChatGPT Plus (around £20/month) adds full access to advanced tools and even higher limits, but Go covers most needs.
? Don't have a ChatGPT or Google account? + −
Both are free and take about a minute to set up. Simply visit chat.openai.com for ChatGPT or gemini.google.com for Gemini to create your account.
Need a walkthrough? Read the step-by-step guide.
? Is my data private? + −
Your conversations go directly to ChatGPT or Google. We cannot see, access, or store anything you type or upload. The only connection to us is our knowledge base, which provides SEND guidance to help answer your questions, but receives no personal information.
For full details, see our privacy policy.
Or use Google Gemini instead (Google sign-in required)
This guidance covers England only. SEND law is different in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This is guidance, not legal advice. Always check important decisions with your local authority or a SEND specialist.
Already know what you need? Skip straight to ChatGPT →