Our Advisors
Our Advisors
We are trained by IPSEA through the National IASS network. This is accredited legal training, so that we can give you the most accurate and current information based on legislation and guidance.
All of our advisors have SEND legal training run by Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA). That means they can give you legally based information about your rights and responsibilities and those of schools, colleges, the Local Authority and education professionals. Our advisors also attend regular training on SEND issues and are fully Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked. This means a check has been done to make sure they can work with vulnerable groups, such as young people.
What do SENDIASS advisors do?
These are the kind of things your advisor can help you with:
- Understanding legal processes, such as Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and plans and knowing what you need to do and when.
- Preparing for meetings.
- Developing a good working relationship with your nursery, school or college.
- Making decisions, by talking about what all your options are and the pros and cons of each.
- Knowing how to do practical tasks, such as asking for an EHC needs assessment, checking a draft EHC plan or getting referred to a specialist.
- Understanding how to deal with conflict in relationships with professionals or move forward when things have gone wrong.
- Feeling understood and listened to
Meet the Team
We are a small group but come with a wealth of experience between us and are here to support you:
- Sharmila Haque – Team leader - Full time
- Amanda Jemesson - Caseworker – Monday and Thursdays (Term-time)
- Assia Rehman – Caseworker – Full time
- Gill Howard Smith - Caseworker – Thursday and Friday
- Asta Simuneke – Parent Volunteer – Tuesday and Fridays (Term-time)
- Catherine Cuskin – Volunteer- Monday and Wednesday (Term-time)