We are delighted to welcome two new trustees to the NASS Council:
- Hero Slinn, Chief Operations Officer at Octavia House Schools
- Ethan Sumner, Co-Founder & CEO of Community Stack.
Both bring valuable experience from across specialist education, SEND leadership and multi-agency working, alongside a clear commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. Their perspectives will support NASS in continuing to represent and support its members effectively at a time of significant change across the sector.
Drawing on her experience in special schools and the transformative impact they can have on children and young people, Hero reflected on her wish to become a NASS trustee and her commitment to ensuring the sector’s work is recognised nationally:
“I wanted to become a NASS trustee because I believe specialist schools play a transformative role in the lives of children who have not had the fairest starts. Throughout my career, I have been driven by a commitment to championing pupils with complex SEMH needs, trauma histories and multiple ACEs, and to ensuring they receive ambitious, relational and therapeutic education that genuinely changes their life trajectory. My work has always centred on building systems that recognise the whole child, value lived experience and create the conditions for children to thrive — particularly those who have been underserved or misunderstood by mainstream pathways.
I hope to bring my experience across SEND leadership, children’s services, commissioning and multi agency partnership working to strengthen the sector’s voice at a time of significant reform. Having worked on different, sides of the system - within mainstream education, local authority leadership and now in specialist provision - I understand the pressures, opportunities and complexities that shape decision making for schools, families and commissioners. I am committed to supporting NASS members, championing therapeutic and relationship centred practice, and helping to ensure that specialist schools are recognised nationally for the expertise, stability and hope they provide to children and young people with the most complex needs.”
On joining NASS as a trustee, Ethan shared his passion for strengthening the support, value and connection offered to members:
“I wanted to become a NASS Trustee because I believe deeply in the role NASS plays in supporting, connecting and championing special schools across the country. This is a pivotal time for SEND, with the forthcoming SEND White Paper and wider changes across education likely to shape the sector's future for years to come. At a time when special schools need a strong, credible voice nationally, I feel privileged to support NASS and its members on that journey.
My own experiences have also shaped my belief in the importance of early support, understanding and giving every child and young person the environment they need to thrive. I am particularly passionate about helping NASS strengthen the support, value and connection it offers to members. There are undoubtedly challenges ahead, but there is also extraordinary work happening in special schools every day. I am proud to play a small part in supporting the schools, staff, children and young people who make this sector so important.”
Find out more about the NASS Council and our trustees: https://nasschools.org.uk/about-nass/meet-the-trustees/