Steiner teacher: student visa changing to work permit

[spannablue]

I am trying to find out about what I can do to assist a teacher at my daughter's Steiner school. She is from the Phillipines and has been here on a student visa. She has a BA and an MA (but not in teaching) from the Phillipines. She has just finished her Steiner teaching diploma and has a job waiting for her at the school. We are concerneed that the work visa process may take many months and that she may have to go back to the Phillipines for a couple of months- in which case she would not be able to start the term on time. Steiner teachers are extremely rare in the UK.

My first question relates to immigration companies: can you recommend any of the following?
-Immigration 4 UK (Adam Goodrich)
-WorkPermit.com
-Jones, Keller and Assoc., Greenwich
If not, can you recommend a better one- and what is a fair cost for this service?

Secondly, do you think she will have to return to the Phillipines at all?

Thirdly, is there a chance she may not get her visa?

Fourthly, is a Steiner teaching qualification viewed by the immigration authorities as the same as a regular PGCE?

Any advice is most gratefully received.