Steering Group Elections 2025 - 2026

Please find below their expressions of interests

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1. Alison

I am a mum of three - the eldest two of whom are deaf. I feel passionately that all deaf children should be offered access to language - spoken and signed and that their families should be supported with this access. I work as a Communication Support Worker doing just this in a mainstream nursery.  

I know from experience that the most powerful tool in a SEN parent's toolbox is access to other parents - for knowledge and expertise but also for fellowship, community and an understanding that is impossible to find outside lived experience. SEND Power brings together that community and uses it to influence change and understanding in the local authority through co-production and equity.  

I have been proud to sit on the SEND Power steering group for two years and would be delighted to continue. I have seen the difference our work can make and I have also seen how much work there is still to do.  

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2. Amanda

I am mum to two adult children who are both neurodiverse; the younger is 24 and has a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD, the other is now 28 and remains undiagnosed.

I was involved with a group of parents who volunteered to assist in procuring the services of a host provider to initiate the development of a Parent Carer Forum (PCF) in Haringey and am the current Chair of SEND Power. As a parent carer myself, I have always advocated for and expressed the views of SEND parents/carers and their families for over 20 years. I have also been a parent governor in both special and mainstream schools.

As Chair of SEND Power I continue to represent and feedback the concerns of the membership at various strategic meeting with the Local Authority including The SEND Executive Board, Safety Valve, Employment Forum, Transitions Operational Subgroup, Coproduction Task and Finishing Group, Short Breaks and the Inclusion and Access Group. I also represent SEND Power as a co-opted member of Children and Young People's (CYP) Scrutiny Panel; this is the panel which holds the Local Authority to account regarding all this CYP, and our representation is SEND specific.  

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3. Ana

I am passionate about making sure every parent and carer in Haringey has a voice that truly counts. As a mother of three children with autism and other neurodiversities, I bring first-hand experience of the challenges and strengths within our community. In meetings, I will actively champion the experiences, concerns, and ideas shared by parents and carers, ensuring they are heard and acted upon.

My goal is to work collaboratively with the local authority and NHS to drive positive change and improve services for children and young people with SEND. By representing the collective voice of parents and carers, I aim to make a real difference—because together, we are stronger and can shape a better future for our families.

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4. Cicely

I would love the privilege to be a part of the Send Power Steering Group.

My name is Cicely, I am the mother of a 15-year-old boy who is currently waiting an assessment for autism. He has been out of school since October 2024 as he has EBSA; he can find the school environment overwhelming.

I am passionate about being able to support families on their individual journeys. I am particularly keen to support those who have come to the diagnosis stage late in their child's life.

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5. Emma

I am the parent of an autistic, ADHD teenage son who experiences barriers to learning, resulting in a long journey to Local Authority (LA) provided home tuition. I came to know SEND Power through this journey and they have been an immense practical and emotional support for myself and my family.

I am a qualified teacher with over 20 years experience in both Secondary and primary schools. Latterly I worked as a specialist SEND teacher in a mainstream primary school. I’m currently a full time carer for my son.

Through SEND Power I have been able to work with Haringey LA Educational psychologists and other agencies to help shape their EBSA/barriers to education guidance. I am practical person so I concentrated on getting the lived experience of my son and other children with similar challenges along with those of their families to the centre of the work. Suggesting practical guidance, strategies, language and flexibility in approaches. I was able to express all of this as a speaker at the subsequent organised conference, aiming to build a collaborative relationship between everyone involved, whilst acknowledging the immense challenges our children and we, their parents and carers, face.

I would like to continue to give back to our community through further work with SEND Power as a member of the steering committee.

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6. Jorgie

Hi, I’m Jorgie, I am a mum to a wonderful Neurodivergent boy.

In the last year and half, I have been working at SEND Power in Haringey in an admin & comms capacity, and I have had the privilege of meeting so many parent carers in our community and sharing our experiences, support and knowledge with each other.

I would love to continue representing SEND Power as a steering group member, being a parent voice and working hard to promote better understanding and collaboration in SEND services so there can be true acceptance, inclusion and support for SEND families.

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7. Kate

I’m Kate, a mum to three boys aged 18, 15 and 12. My 15 and 12 year old both have ASD and attend an ASD school within the borough.

I work in a mainstream school within the borough and have done for many years. Myself like the majority of SEND parents within the borough have worked and still work tirelessly to get the right help and support they are entitled to as well as ensuring their children’s needs are met. I feel as I’ve experienced this journey twice I understand the stress and upset SEND parents face and the journey they have ahead.

I would like to put myself forward as a parent rep so I can be the voice for parents who are lost in the system like I once was.

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8. Katrina

My name is Katrina, and I would like to register my interest in becoming a steering group member. I have previously worked part time with SEND Power in Haringey as a Welcome and Care Officer. I also have personal experience being a mother to children with autism and have also navigated the SEND provision system which is not always easy and some time feels like a constant battle. I feel that what I have learnt over the years through my personal and professional experience can help others.

My sons started secondary school last year so I have knowledge of the primary school, I'm learning about secondary school and the provision in place and available. But I also work with post 16 and project search team so I also have that insight.

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9. Megan

I would like to put myself forward to continue to be a rep on the steering group. I am a parent of a child with SLD and SpLD and a teacher at a special school for children with PMLD. I understand the frustrations parents and carers have with the challenges with communication, time management and confusion of provision by the council. I would relay these concerns and work cooperatively to find strategies and hopefully solutions with the committees. A strong focus needs to be on making information and documents accessible to all parents and carers and fit for purpose to support our children.

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10. Olivia

I would love to continue representing SEND Power as a steering group member.

I have been part of the steering group since 2022. Since joining I have been a member of various sub groups including Transport, Early Years, Preparing for Adulthood and Speech, Language and Social Communication. I have also been involved in various projects SEND Power have been invited to work on, for example Autism in Schools. I have some background in SEND law, having done IPSEA training up to level 3 and volunteered for SENDIASS prior to Covid. I am currently working for Contact in the Parent Carer Participation team.

I feel confident reading and understanding policy documents and feel I clearly and concisely feedback parent/carer views in professional meetings.

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11. Rani

I have been on the SEND Power Steering Group for the past three years and am passionate about promoting the interests of SEND families and supporting their wellbeing. I am currently on various Haringey local authority SEND working groups where I have represented the interests of Haringey families across a range of issues. These include improving EHCPs, co-production, supported internships and inclusion.

My son in Year 11 has an EHCP and I have set up Parent/Carer SEND Networks at both Campsbourne Primary School N8 and Alexandra Park Secondary School N11. Through these I have created a community to share information about events and training in the area and to offer advice and support to each other, which has been greatly valued by parents. I have set up online forums for communication and organised coffee mornings and meet ups. These networks have allowed me to speak with parents on many SEND issues and understand their concerns. Through membership of the Steering Group, I have been able to feedback this information to the local authority, parent networks and schools, where I have built strong relationships.

I am a qualified lawyer and mediator, and have used my skills to help many local families navigate the SEND system and EHCP/annual review process. I have previously worked with the local authority on updating EHCP and annual review guidance documents, and have a strong understanding of SEND in Haringey as well as central government policy.

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12. Rosalyn

By way of background- I have a 7-year-old son who is non-verbal and autistic. He is currently in a mainstream school. I would be delighted to be involved and represent the views and interests of parents in the community at the various steering groups.  My son attends a school where they appear to have a lot of SEN children so for me to obtain other parent views at his school would be an excellent way to relay a wide spectrum of interests and views. I have been a member of Send Power in Haringey for over three years. I would be delighted to assist as needed.

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13. Shahrina

A little about myself, my name is Shahrina, I am a mother of two boys whom are autistic and attend a mainstream primary school in Haringey. I am also a Haringey primary school teacher myself. Being a mother and teacher, I am experienced in understanding some of the challenges faced by parents of children with SEND in the borough. I engage with many parents who have children with additional needs that feedback their personal experiences with their child’s development, services they access in the borough, schooling and areas we would like to see improvements in.

I would feel privileged to be part of a community that work towards making improvements for children whom will grow into adults across the borough.

I feel my experience both personally and professionally would be useful in representing Haringey parents in the steering group, especially to be a voice from the BAME community which often goes underrepresented.

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14. Stephanie

I am the parent of a 15-year-old severely autistic child. The past 12 years have been a real struggle and fight to get his needs understood and met. When he transferred from mainstream to a special school, I decided to get as involved as possible with the Haringey SEN community. I have been a Vale parent governor for  8 years. I  was also Chair of the Resource and pay Committee.

I am also a trustee for the WAVE (We are all valued equally) charity which promotes inclusion. We want a society where people of all abilities mingle and socialize, creating long lasting friendships.  I have re-trained as a Therapeutic counsellor and now work as Lead for one of Mind's Autism Services.

I have witnessed first-hand what has been going on in Haringey on the SEN front and would love to carry on as vice-chair of SEND Power, in Haringey.

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15. Trudy

I would like to express my interest to become a volunteer for the steering group. I believe I have skills and attributes that would be useful to assist parents with a SEND need. My own personal experience I believe I can take and everything I have learnt on my journey I believe is a positive factor. I am hoping to be successful and to make a positive change for our families.

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16. Tudy-Ann

I am a proud mother of a child with autism and a resident of Haringey. For the past year, I have been an active member of SEND Power, where I joined with the desire to support our community and stand alongside other families on the SEND journey. My aim is to contribute to building enrichment opportunities, raising awareness, and strengthening advocacy for our children and families in Haringey. I am passionate about ensuring that every child has the chance to thrive and that families feel supported, heard, and empowered.