Who we are

Cheryl Wyatt- Head of IAS Service

Cheryl has been with the service for almost ten years, and took over the head of service role from Nicola McGuinness in 2019. Cheryl is also the main contact for the Local Authorities Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), and for statutory assessment (EHC) support. Cheryl had previously worked in the social care sector and then went on to study social sciences at university, but always had a specific interest in special educational law. Cheryl has legal training to IPSEA level 3, and additionally, is qualified to teach adult learners, hosting our parent/ professionals training. Cheryl is mother to a teenage son who has an EHC Plan.

Nan Cooper- IAS Officer - specialisms in ASD, Early Years, Appeals

Nan has been with the service since 2019. As well as working for IAS, Nan is also the current chair of the local parent carer forum, and has a wealth of knowledge and experience about the difficulties that parent carers face. Mum to a young person with SEND and an EHC plan, Nan is legally trained to IPSEA advanced level 3 and works with the team part time so that she can continue with her forum duties too. Nan will continue to co-host training for parents and carers with Cheryl.

Mike Hirst- IAS Officer- Specialisms in Post 16, Secondary and Exclusion

IAS Officer and AMITY mentor for young people

Mike has been with the service for many years and has a great deal of expertise in working with families and young people with both SEND and emotional health needs. Mike has IPSEA advanced level 3 legal training. He is also a qualified counsellor and works in schools around Bolton offering 1:1 support to young people. Mike also mentors young people. He is also a father to an adult son with a disability.

Karen Partridge- IAS Officer- Specialisms in Primary, SEMH needs, EHC admin

Karen has been with the service since 2018 and is legally trained at IPSEA advanced level 3 legal. A qualified teacher, Karen has a wealth of experience in Education, having worked in the sector for 38 years. This included schools for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, and SEN provision for children with moderate learning difficulties and complex needs. She also has personal experience of supporting a person with a disability.

Kirsty Walsh- Volunteer IAS support worker

Kirsty joined the IAS team in January 2022, and is crucial in supporting the running of the service. Kirsty is a mum to a little girl with special educational needs and so understands the challenges that this can bring. She is likely to be the first person you speak to and tell your story to when you get in touch with us, and will take all your information down before allocating you to an IAS officer. You may also see her in meetings and in the office, as she shadows the IAS team to enhance her own skills to develop her ongoing role within the service. Kirsty is qualified in Early Years Education and is soon to undertake her legal training. Kirsty is also part of Bolton Parent Carers.

Supporting the work of IAS, and working alongside IAS...

IAS is based in COG nursery, and are part of the COG family.

The staff at IAS are supported by COG's business manager, Annette Dodd. We also have several volunteer receptionists and supporters.

We work closely with Bolton Parent Carer forum and co-deliver our parent carer and professionals training with them.

We hold monthly drop ins with the Families Information Worker, Elaine Nuttall, from Bolton Council's childrens social care team.

We work collaboratively with our partners across the community voluntary sector, including Breaking Barriers NW, Reach NW, and BLGC.

We support and endorse the work of the youth forum who do an excellent job of getting the views and experiences of children and young people in the borough.