Our team
ANNA
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Tribunal Co-ordinator
Anna has over 30 years of experience in SEND Education including as a teacher, SENCo, within school senior leadership and Local Authorities. She has worked with national organisations to provide educational legal advice and advocacy for parents of children with SEND both in a general capacity and to provide specific First Tier Tribunal support. In addition to her experience of all areas of SEND education, she has specialised expertise in supporting families of children and young people with care experience, SEND Tribunals, Section 19 Alternative Provision) and combined education and social care needs.
In addition to her extensive experience in SEND legal support, Anna has personal experience as a parent of a young adult with SEND and is committed to supporting families to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children to enable them to meet their full potential and aspirations.
SARAH
COMPANY DIRECTOR
EHCP Co-ordinator
Sarah qualified as an NNEB in 1988 and has worked professionally in the Early Years sector for over 35 years, including as a SENCO, Safeguarding Lead and adult SEND education and training. She has always had a passion for SEND in a professional role; with the birth of her son in 2004, this became a personal interest, too. Her personal experience has led to fully understanding complex health and educational needs from both a professional and personal perspective.
In addition to her experience of all areas of SEND education, Sarah has specialised expertise in supporting families of children and young people with EHCP processes, EOTAS, collaboration with solicitors for Judicial Review, and combined education and health care needs.
LILLIE
DIGITAL AND DESIGN MANAGER
Lillie is a digital marketer based in the UK with extensive experience in Graphics, Web Design, and Social Media management.
Having Graduated from The University of Warwick with a Master's Degree in Global Media and Communications, Lillie supports Empowering Families' digital strategy, drawing on her 20 years of personal experience with her younger brother, who has SEND
REBECCA
BUSINESS ADMIN MANAGER
Rebecca has been working as an administrator for the past 3 decades, since graduating from Kings College, London. For over 10 years she has worked from home whilst single parenting her 3 children with SEND.
With personal experience of seeking support and specialist placements for her own children, Rebecca is delighted to be working with the Empowering SEND Families team to support their work with people going through this process.
TOMASIN
BUSINESS EVENTS MANAGER
Tomasin became self-employed after having children, following her corporate career in Incident Management. The purpose of her business was to provide small companies with a fully flexible business support solution on an ad hoc basis.
Much of the work which she has carried out in this role has been to provide general business support, project management, designing and implementing systems and staff training.
In 2017, her youngest child was diagnosed with ADHD, starting her personal journey in SEND.
She joined the team to support with our Events program.
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AMY
EHCP SUPPORT ADVOCATE
Amy has four young children with SEND and so understands how difficult this journey is to navigate as a parent, and is fully IPSEA trained and experienced in employment law.
She is dedicated in supporting families to receive the best possible outcomes for their children as quickly as possible, preventing the need for a tribunal hearing wherever possible.
However, should a tribunal hearing become necessary her expertise and compassionate approach will provide ongoing support to you throughout the process.
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LEANNE
EMPOWERING FAMILIES ADVOCATE
Leanne has two young children with SEND, both with EHCPs. Her eldest is now thriving in a Specialist Independent school.
Professionally, she is an experienced NNEB with a passion for Early Years and is also fully IPSEA trained.
As our Empowering Families Advocate, Leanne supports Sarah in her work to provide high quality bespoke EHCPs, and oversees legal guidance and signposting in our Facebook Group.
CLAUDINE
FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATE
Claudine has over 10 years' experience working with children and families within SEND. As a specialist teacher, she supported schools and agencies in developing diverse practices and appropriate resources, for greater inclusivity.
Claudine now works closely with parents, guiding them after diagnosis, supporting EHCP Section F needs, and assisting children to transition into suitable environments. She liaises with schools and SEN teams, aligning provision through IEP checks and meetings with Empowering Families.
Our vision
Our vision is to empower SEND families throughout their journey towards securing the best possible education, support and outcomes for their children.
We aim to create a world where every child with SEND can access the resources, services, and legal protections they need to thrive. Through our personal and professional expertise in SEND education systems, processes, and laws, we aspire to empower families to advocate for their children's unique needs confidently.
By sharing our knowledge, fostering resilience, and building solid partnerships, we envision a future where SEND children and young adults achieve excellent outcomes and lead fulfilling lives and where SEND families no longer feel isolated but are part of a supportive community.
Our mission
We are dedicated to empowering families to become effective advocates for their children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Drawing upon our extensive experience in education, SEND law, advocacy and as SEND parents, our unwavering commitment is to support families in achieving the best possible outcomes for their children.
We understand first-hand the isolation and challenges that families face in navigating the SEND education system, and we work closely with them to prevent overwhelm while securing the outcomes their children deserve.
At the heart of our mission is the belief that every child, regardless of their SEND diagnosis, should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and fulfil their aspirations.
