Nico Sialelli, Chief Executive Officer
Nico has worked in Special Education for 19 years. These have included schools for children and young people with severe learning difficulties, Autism, severe behavioural difficulties and a residential care home for adults with complex and multiple needs.
Nico’s first experience of the Sheiling School was when he came as a volunteer for one and half years in 1999. Nico returned to the Sheiling School in 2009 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in October 2011.
Nico’s first experience of the Sheiling School was when he came as a volunteer for one and half years in 1999. Nico returned to the Sheiling School in 2009 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in October 2011.
Nico studied Steiner Education at the London Waldorf Steiner Teacher Training Seminar for two years. Nico also holds a Level 4 qualification in Health and Social Care as well as the Registered Manager Award. Nico is also a Team-Teach accredited Advanced Tutor.
Nico Sialelli
CEO
Dean Frances-Hawksley, Head Teacher
Dean has worked in a range of roles in SEN education for over twenty years, including LSA, Assistant Teacher, Class Teacher, Education Co-ordinator, Assistant and Deputy Head, and now Head Teacher. In this time he has worked with the full spectrum of ages, needs and abilities (including pupils with ASD, ADHD, DS, Attachment Disorder and SEMH issues), the common thread being challenging behaviour. Throughout, Dean has worked closely with the Steiner Waldorf approach and is a trained Waldorf Teacher. Dean first came to the Sheiling School in 2000 in the role of class teacher. After a period of living abroad (2006-2011) he returned to the Sheiling School for a short period as LSA and then as Class Teacher. In 2017 he was appointed Assistant Head, became Deputy Head in 2018 and was appointed as Head Teacher in February 2019.
Dean has a first class BA Honours degree on Film and Literature and an MA by Research in Film from the University of Warwick. He qualified as a Steiner Teacher from the West of England Steiner Teacher Training course in Stroud.
Dean Frances-Hawskley
Head Teacher
Noah Black, Head of Therapeutic Support & Lead Safeguarding Officer
Noah has more than 10 years experience working in several Camphill Communities.
Noah has a BA Degree in Curative Education and is currently completing an NVQ 5 in Health and Social Care. Noah is also a Team-Teach accredited Advanced Tutor.
Noah Black
Head of Therapeutic Support & Lead Safeguarding Officer
Richard Tiplady, Registered Manager & Head of Care
Richard has over ten years’ experience managing care / children’s homes. Richard is also experienced in training staff in Positive behaviour support and communication needs including Makaton and Picture Exchange Cards. Richard joined the Senior Leadership team in 2016 and is a Safeguarding Officer, Head of Care and the Registered Manager of the Children’s home.
Richard holds a degree in Social Policy
Richard Tiplady
Head of Care
Syl Edgeley, Head of Training, Development and Therapy
Syl has 40 years of experience in Special Education and for the majority of the time she has lived and worked in at the Sheiling School in Care as a Volunteer, Houseparent, Head of Care and Lead Safeguarding Officer. Syl was appointed in her current role in 2014. Prior to coming to Thornbury in 1977, Syl worked in the field of social care with young adults in other non-Anthroposophical communities with a focus on mental health
Syl holds NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care (Children and Young people) as well as the Registered Manager Award (Adults). She has completed both the 3 year Camphill Course in Remedial Education and Proficiency in Curative Education.
Syl Edgeley
Head of Therapy, Training and Development
Alison Davis, Head of HR
Alison has over 10 years experience in HR Management, coupled with a strong background in Finance and Administration. Alison also started and ran a successful business for a period of 8 years. Prior to joining the Sheiling School, Alison worked at a residential special school that specialises in meeting the needs of children and young people with autism.
Alison has a BSc Degree in Psychology from the University of Warwick and is also CIPD qualified.
Alison Davis
Business Manager
Emily Jones, Head of Finance
Emily’s journey with the Sheiling School started in 2017. Previously, she spent 6 years working for a number of successful accountancy firms, where she specialised in audit, accounting and business support for schools and charities across the South West.
Emily holds a BSc in International Management and French from the University of Bath, and is a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Emily Jones
Head of Finance
Sam Hembury, Head of Resource
Sam has worked in facilities management for over 10 years, working in Special Education, for the local authority and a family run security company.
IOSH Managing Safely
Sam Hembury
Head of Resource