The builder's path
For: Parents in England can't track how long their council is taking on their child's EHC plan or what to do when it runs late.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ
Routes to a solution
Each route is a different kind of journey, with real people and organisations to contact at each step, starting with those in England.
Step 1
Find a lab or university incubator
Researchers and students who can test it properly.
Funds bold ideas in global health and humanitarian work.
Y Combinator's free course and co-founder matching.
Accelerator for tech nonprofits.
Step 2
Win a research grant
Funding for a rigorous trial or study.
Funds bold ideas in global health and humanitarian work.
Let the people a free tool helps fund its maintainer directly.
Grants for open source that makes the internet better.
Funds open source solutions from emerging economies.
Ideas, sources and tools for this problem, from first interviews to funding.
National and council-level data on requests, assessments and timeliness.
Legal charity that advises parents on EHC needs assessments and template letters.
Starter prompt
Built from this problem's brief. Paste it into Claude or any AI assistant.
Help me design and build a first working prototype for this problem in England, UK. Problem: Parents in England can't track how long their council is taking on their child's EHC plan or what to do when it runs late. Who it hurts: Parents who have asked their local council for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment. The moment it hurts: Week 20 after the request, when the plan should be issued and nothing has arrived. What people do today: Parents keep their own notes, chase caseworkers by email and learn about complaints and tribunals from charities and forums. Why it is still unsolved: Each council runs its own process. National figures show the delays, but a family has no simple view of where their own case stands against the legal deadlines. What solved looks like: A free tracker where a parent enters the request date and gets each statutory deadline, reminders as they pass, their council's published on-time rate, and ready-to-send letters for a late plan. Where: England, UK First, list what you would need to learn from the people affected before building, as interview questions. Then propose the simplest version that would help, the screens or messages it needs, and the data it would use. Keep it cheap to run, accessible, and respectful of people's privacy. Flag anything you are unsure about instead of guessing.
Talk to the people who live it before you build.
“The true creator is necessity, which is the mother of our invention.”
Get a working version in front of people fast.
Using AI is not cheating. Every tool carries the work of the people who made it, and using it well is how knowledge has always moved forward. The thinking, the care for the people who live the problem, and the judgement are still yours.
“The Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard-loom weaves flowers and leaves.”
Open data that fits this problem.
“In the fields of observation chance favours only the prepared mind.”
Dans les champs de l'observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.
Tools matched to what this problem needs.
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
Ship it responsibly, and find help and funding.
“As to diseases, make a habit of two things: to help, or at least to do no harm.”
ἀσκέειν περὶ τὰ νουσήματα δύο, ὠφελέειν ἢ μὴ βλάπτειν
Kit written for this problem from its brief; every link was checked. Links go to each provider's own site. Zetema is not paid for any listing.