About us Our people Our staff Our staff We're a small but passionate team, working together to ensure children and young people with SEND receive the education they are entitled to by law. Maria Bloom, Legal Team Member Maria has worked for organisations providing legally based advice about special educational needs since 1997. As part of the legal team, Maria works with IPSEA's new and existing volunteers delivering training to them, and providing legal support. She is also responsible for monitoring and supervising their work and assisting them by providing legal updates. Maria also delivers IPSEA's external training to parents, SEN experts, schools and local authorities as well as creating legally based written resources. Maria is Vice Chair of Governors at a local authority maintained primary school where, not surprisingly, she takes the lead on SEN issues. Helen Bishton, Helplines Coordinator Helen works in the advice services team as a Helplines Coordinator. She coordinates the Call-In Service. She also takes calls and gives advice on all the helplines. Helen is a recently retired teacher and senior manager in special schools. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, dancing, sewing, crochet, singing in a choir, theatre and spending time with her three grown-up children, family and friends. Emma Brock, Communications Officer Emma is responsible for building the IPSEA brand and promoting and marketing IPSEA’s services to multiple audiences. She manages and implements IPSEA's marketing campaigns, and coordinates our website, social media, PR and special events. Before joining IPSEA, Emma worked for the University of Cambridge as a Project Coordinator looking after the delivery and organisation of a wide range of executive education programmes. When not working, Emma is kept busy by her young children, and if she gets a spare moment, can be found reading a good book. Lisa Coaten, Legal Team Member As a member of the legal team, Lisa works with volunteers training them, providing legal support and supervising their work on the helplines and Tribunal Support Service. She also delivers training to parents, carers and professionals, and helps the team to keep IPSEA’s legal resources up to date. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys going to the theatre, planning family holidays and is currently studying for her Masters. Kate Cox, Legal Team Member As a member of the legal team, Kate provides legal support to volunteers and supervises their helpline and Tribunal Support Service work. She also writes monthly updates for the volunteers, ensuring they are kept up to date with legal and policy changes. She helps maintain IPSEA’s legal resources and briefings, and provides training to parents, carers and professionals. Kate also supports the policy team in their work. In her spare time, Kate loves to have her nose in a new book, get outside and exercise, and play with her two sons. Lauren Crowson, Solicitor Apprentice As a member of the legal team, Lauren provides legal advice, casework support, and representation to parents, young people and carers on IPSEA’s helplines and before the First Tier Tribunal. Lauren researches and updates content for IPSEA’s website, e-learning and training legal resources. She is currently studying with BPP University in preparation for the SQE. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her young children, family outings, skiing holidays and reading. Julia Day, Advice Services Manager Julia is our Advice Services Manager and oversees the running of the advice services delivered to parents through a team of volunteers. Julia has over 15 years experience in the charity sector including volunteer management and delivering information services. Julia has two boys at secondary school and her eldest has an autism diagnosis. Julia has been a member of her local choir for over 10 years, and makes the most of the stress-busing communal singing and opportunities to perform to friends and family. Megan Day, Solicitor Apprentice Megan is one of two solicitor apprentices in the legal team at IPSEA. Her role involves providing legal advice and casework support to parents, carers and young people on the IPSEA helplines and before the First Tier Tribunal. Megan is a recent graduate from the University of Hull after completing her Law degree and a Master's degree in Criminal Justice and Crime Control. She is currently studying with BPP in preparation for her Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam. When not working Megan enjoys holidaying abroad, reading thriller novels, live music and spending time with friends and family. Liz Devlin, Legal Team Member Liz is a member of IPSEA’s Legal Team. She provides legal support to new and existing volunteers and supervises and monitors the advice provided on IPSEA’s helplines. She also delivers SEND Law training to parents and carers across the country. As part of IPSEA’s Policy Team, Liz gets involved in both local and national policy work and contributes to creating content which is shared on our social media platforms. Liz’s role includes reviewing and updating the IPSEA website to ensure information is kept current and she enjoys creating new website resources for parents and young people to use, such as model letters Outside of work, Liz advocates and cares for her son, who is Autistic and has special educational needs; she is also a special school governor. Liz enjoys spinning, walking and spending quality time with family. Georgina Downard, Senior Solicitor Georgina is a qualified solicitor. As a member of IPSEA’s legal team she delivers IPSEA’s training programme to volunteers and to various external audiences including parents, schools and SEN professionals. Georgina monitors and provides legal support to IPSEA volunteers, and manages IPSEA’s written resources and Upper Tribunal appeals. She also contributes to IPSEA’s work to improve SEN policy at local and national levels. Outside of work, Georgina enjoys live music, motorbike rides, yoga and good old quality time with her friends and family (especially when this involves food!). Charmaine Greenan Charmaine works in the advice services team as the Tribunal Casework Coordinator. She matches up families with volunteers to support them through the tribunal process. She has three children, two of whom are disabled. She enjoys yoga, swimming, reading and walking with her two dogs, Scrappy and Dora. Anna Lowson, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Anna works in the advice services team as the volunteer engagement coordinator. She is the first point of contact for volunteers and provides support at all stages of the volunteer role. Before joining IPSEA she was an Early Years teacher. She is mum to three teenagers – the eldest of whom is Autistic. She enjoys peaceful early morning runs, making soup, reading detective and crime novels and being walked by her French Bulldog, Alvin. Catriona Moore, Policy Manager Catriona is responsible for IPSEA’s work in bringing about change by influencing the development of SEND policy nationally. Her background is in public policy and communications, and she has worked for a number of charities and public sector organisations, as well as in Parliament. In the past she has served as an elected councillor in a London borough, a special school governor and a charity trustee. Alongside her work, Catriona cares and advocates for her teenage daughter, who has complex needs. When there’s any spare time, she loves walking all over London and hiding in bookshops. Alison Pexton, Fundraising Manager Alison oversees IPSEA’s fundraising strategy, with a focus on building relationships, innovative fundraising, strategic planning and ensuring a sustainable funding pipeline for our charity. She has over 15 years’ experience in devising and executing successful fundraising campaigns for non-profit organisations and charitable causes and has consistently generated substantial financial support for various local and national charities. In her spare time, Alison is a devoted dog lover, endeavours to train her mischievous Cockapoo and actively supports animal welfare organisations. Wendy Rainbow, Legal Team Manager Wendy is a solicitor and manages IPSEA’s legal team. The legal team trains IPSEA's volunteers as well as supervising and assisting them with legal queries, casework support and tribunal advice. The team also delivers training to parent and carer groups and other organisations helping their members understand their legal rights under the SEND statutory framework, as well as bespoke training courses for other professionals in the SEND field advising them on their legal obligations to children and young people. Working with IPSEA's policy manager, the legal team seeks to influence national policy and legal developments in SEND law as well as effecting change within individual local authorities. Sarah Sleigh, Finance Manager Sarah is a Chartered Accountant and manages IPSEA's finance team. Having completed her training in the public sector audit team at PwC, Sarah has continued to work in and around public services so brings over 10 years experience of working in finance in a heavily regulated environment. The finance team work across the organisation providing financial support and ensuring strong financial governance is embedded within IPSEAs processes. Alex Stafford, Legal Team Member Alex is a solicitor in IPSEA's legal team. She is responsible for delivering training to new volunteers and ongoing training to existing volunteers. She delivers IPSEA's programme of external training to parents, schools, SEN specialists and local authorities. As well as training, Alex also provides legal support to the IPSEA volunteers and monitors and supervises their case work and helpline advice as well as supporting the provision of legal updates. Alex creates legally based written resources and is part of the team undertaking national and local policy work. Alex enjoys running, hiking and attempting yoga. Nicola Stevenson, Finance Administrator Nicola's role is to keep the office running smoothly. Her focus is predominantly HR, dealing with contracts, invoices, leases, health and safety and carrying out general administration. When not at work Nicola is busy looking after her family and volunteering in her local community. Gillian Warwick-Thompson, Helplines Advisor Gillian works part-time for IPSEA as a Helplines Advisor advising parents and carers on issues relating to special educational needs and disabilities and appeals to the SEND Tribunal. She completed her law degree in 2022 and is now studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) having successfully passed SQE1 in July 2023. Gillian is embarking on a second career in law having previously worked in the pension industry for over 20 years. She has two children with SEND who have inspired her change in career. She is also Chair of Trustees for a small charity supporting children with Down Syndrome and is a special school governor. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking the family dog and reading. Jo Yuill, Training Coordinator Jo is responsible for organising and coordinating IPSEA's training sessions. Before joining IPSEA, Jo lived and worked in South Africa supporting the Regional Learning & Development team for Virgin Active Health Clubs. In her spare time, Jo can be found in group fitness classes or involved in local amateur dramatics. Jo is a mum to two daughters, both currently at university. Manage Cookie Preferences