Who we are

Cheryl Wyatt- Head of IAS Service

Working days- Monday to Friday all year round

Cheryl has been with the service for almost a decade, and took over the head of service role in 2019. Cheryl oversees the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), and is the named person for statutory assessment (EHC) support. Cheryl had previously worked in social care sector and then went on to study this at university, but always had a specific interest in special educational law. Cheryl has Bar Accredited legal training and is qualified to teach adult learners, hosting our parent/ professionals training. Cheryl is mother to a young person with SEND.

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

Working days- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, term time only.

Nan has been with the service since 2019. As well as working for IAS, Nan is also the chair of the local parent carer forum, and so has a wealth of knowledge and experience about the difficulties that parent carers face. Mum to a young person with SEND and Autism. Nan has Bar Accredited legal training and works with the team part time so that she can continue with her forum duties too. Nan arranges and co-hosts training for parents and carers with Cheryl.

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

Working days- Monday and Friday- all year round

Mike has been with us the longest of all the IAS team, and has worked in the service for 20 years. He has a great deal of experience in working with families and young people with both SEND and emotional health needs. Mike has Bar Accredited legal training, as well as being a qualified counsellor. Mike works part time for the service as he also works in schools offering 1:1 counselling to young people. Mike is also a father to an adult son with a disability.

Kirsty Walsh- IAS Helpline officer

Working days- Monday to Thursday mornings- term time only.

Kirsty is mum to a little girl with SEND, and so understands the challenges that this can bring. Kirsty has volunteered with the IAS service for a couple of years already, gaining experience and an understanding of the difficulties our parents and carers face. You may have already met Kirsty if you have been supported with any statutory paperwork for an EHC plan. Kirsty has now moved into the role of helpline advisor, and is likely to be the person who takes your call when you first get in touch. Kirsty is level 3 legal trained and is a qualified early years practitioner.

Samantha Kirby- IAS Officer

Working days- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all year round.