Nico Sialelli, Chief Executive Officer
Nico is the Chief Executive of Sheiling School with responsibility for strategic direction and operational delivery across the full breadth of Sheiling School’s activity. He is a member of the Board of Governors and the main point of contact for the Board of Trustees. Nico has a close working relationship with advisory bodies such as NASS having overall responsibility for external relations and business development.
Nico has worked in Special Education for over 20 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 Sheiling School was when he volunteered for the school for one and half years in 1999. Nico returned to Sheiling School in 2009 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in October 2011.
Nico has worked in Special Education for over 20 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 Sheiling School was when he volunteered for the school for one and half years in 1999. Nico returned to 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 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
Victoria Welsh, Head of Care
Victoria has worked in Residential schools for over 28 years, first as a support worker, then Team Leader, Deputy House Manager/House Manager, Care Coordinator and now as a Head of Care. She joined the Sheiling School in 2016 as a Bank worker and then a permanent position as Care Coordinator over-seeing the running of the Children’s home. Both provisions she has worked at have followed the Curative ethos of Rudolf Steiner.
Victoria has supported children and teenagers with a wide range of abilities and needs which include ASD, SLD, ADHD, SEMH, Attachment Disorder, challenging behaviors and physical disabilities.
Victoria has a NVQ Level 5 in Leadership and Management, Health and Social Care and Diploma in Curative Education.
Victoria Welsh
Head of Care
Noah Black, Head of Therapeutic Support & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Noah has more than 15 years experience working in several Camphill Communities.
Noah has a BA Degree in German Studies and a BA degree in Curative Education. Noah is also a Team-Teach accredited Advanced Tutor.
Noah Black
Head of Therapeutic Support & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Syl Edgeley, Head of Development & Staff Support Lead
Syl has over 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 Development & Staff Support Lead
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