If you’re a parent navigating the SEND system, I want to speak directly to you.
This week, a national newspaper got in touch asking questions about AskEllie — the free AI assistant I built to help families like mine get clear, trusted information about EHCPs, school support, and your rights. They’ve asked about my qualifications, about TikTok posts, and even whether a dad like me should be building something like this at all.
So I’m writing this before their article is published. Not to fight fire with fire — but to be open, transparent, and tell the full story in my own words. Because you deserve to know what this is really about.
Why I Built AskEllie
A couple of years ago, my family was in crisis. Both of our sons have additional needs, and trying to get the right support for them through the EHCP process was a nightmare. We were left to figure it all out ourselves. No one explained the deadlines. No one told us our rights. We were exhausted, stressed, and constantly being fobbed off.
So I decided to do something.
I used my tech background to build a free, easy-to-use website where other parents could get instant answers based on UK SEND law and government guidance. It doesn’t collect your data. It doesn’t sell anything. And it doesn’t pretend to replace legal advice. It just gives you a place to start when you’re being ignored, gaslit, or drowning in red tape.
I called it AskEllie. And somehow, it started to grow.
Is It Legal Advice? No. Is It Helpful? Absolutely.
Let me be clear: I’m not a solicitor. I’ve never claimed to be. The site says so clearly. Everything AskEllie shares is based on public sources like gov.uk, the SEND Code of Practice, and charities like IPSEA and Contact. It’s meant to support families, not replace professionals.
But here’s the truth: most families can’t afford legal advice. Many can’t even get help from charities because they’re overwhelmed too. So I built something to fill that gap — responsibly, ethically, and openly.
And now, major voices in the sector agree.
Who’s Backing This?
Access to Justice Foundation, one of the UK’s leading organisations for legal access, has stepped forward to support the project and explore how we grow it safely.
An MP has asked us to collect parent stories to feed into the next Parliamentary SEND review. We’ve already received hundreds.
Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Committee, has welcomed written evidence from AskEllie for future inquiries.
And a member of the House of Lords is currently arranging a meeting to explore how AskEllie could help families at scale.
None of this is about ego. It’s about showing that when the system fails, families step up. And when we embrace innovation, lives change.
What About TikTok?
One video I posted — titled “Don’t send your kids to school” — has been mentioned as potentially scaremongering. Here’s the truth:
At the time, TikTok was full of false rumours about school lockdown drills and children being taken without consent. Parents were terrified. My video used the same headline that was already trending — not to add panic, but to calm it down.
If you watch the full video, I explain clearly that there was no legal basis for the panic. I gave parents facts, reassured them, and encouraged calm. That’s why it was seen by over half a million people. It resonated because it brought clarity when people needed it most.
The Real Danger? Doing Nothing.
One solicitor told the journalist AskEllie was “dangerous.” I respectfully disagree. What’s dangerous is parents having nowhere to turn. No solicitor. No charity support. Just closed doors and confusing jargon.
AskEllie isn’t perfect, but it’s helping thousands. I get messages every day from mums and dads saying, “I finally understand what to do.” Or, “You helped me challenge something that wasn’t right.”
This is how we change things.
What Happens Next
We are improving AskEllie every day. We’re adding new tools, blogs, template letters, and opportunities for collaboration. We want professionals to help us build this together. I’m not here to replace anyone. I’m here because, like you, I was tired of waiting for someone else to fix things.
From the printing press to the internet, every major leap in access to information has faced resistance at first. But we all know that empowering families with knowledge changes everything.
This is just the beginning.
Thank you for believing in AskEllie.
Oliver Lee
Founder, AskEllie.co.uk
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