About us

Nicola joined the Board of Directors in April 2018, having been a member of the Governing Body of Royal School Manchester since October 2016..

Nicola is a parent of three children aged with special needs and disabilities (SEND) of varying degrees from PMLD to MLD.  She has been fully involved in their care, early intervention, schooling, therapies and medical needs since they were born (all three very prematurely). Nicola’s youngest child, has a placement at the Seashell Trust, gained through Tribunal.

Nicola has experience of working with parents with children with special needs and disabilities at mainstream, special needs schools, and a special needs nursery. She has also worked with SEND family partnership in Stafford where she was trained as an Independent Supporter in the new SEN legislation.

Nicola is passionate that all children with SEND have the right to access the best educational provision tailored to their needs. She is a strong advocate for early intervention and the significant aspirations, benefits and outcomes that this can provide for our children. She also believes that the right support for parents and siblings should be made available, offered and be accessible, specifically regarding emotional, financial and respite.

Nicola has been a School Governor for other special needs schools and was heavily involved in the financials, facilities management and strategic planning, liaising often directly with the Local Authority. She also volunteered in a special needs nursery and was the treasurer and chair of PTA for this, and her eldest son’s school. She strives to add value, support and be an asset in all she does, especially so in this field.

Nicola is chartered in surveying, arbitration and qualified in tax, and leads a specialist tax service at Grant Thornton.

Nicola was born, went to school and has lived and worked in Manchester for much of her life and currently lives in South Manchester.