HEAH: Open Routes For All Learners

Shellisha Shann – Founder & Lead Practitioner

Shellisha Shann is a qualified educator and registered social worker with a Master’s degree in Social Work, a Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS), and a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Culture and Society. She has also completed Level 3 Personal Training and Fitness Instructor training, as well as Level 4 Drug, Solvent & Alcohol Abuse Counselling – all reflecting a broad and holistic commitment to supporting the well-being of children, young people, and their families.

With over a decade of experience working alongside children, young people, and families, Shellisha blends academic knowledge with frontline practice across education, youth development, and mental health settings. Her work has involved collaboration within multi-agency teams in services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS), disability support, and alternative education environments.

Shellisha draws on a range of creative and therapeutic approaches, trauma-informed practice, restorative methods, and Makaton communication to create safe, empowering spaces where learners feel supported, understood, and able to thrive.

As a neurodivergent parent and special guardian, Shellisha deeply understands the challenges families face when navigating diverse learning needs. In her own journey of trying to determine if home education was suitable for her young person, she often felt alone, like "no one was here" to guide her. It was from this personal experience and a profound recognition of that unmet need that HEAH blossomed.

As the founder of HEAH: Home Ed Alliance Hub – Open Routes for All Learners CIC, Shellisha is building an inclusive, flexible model of provision for learners aged 8-16. Her work centers on helping young people reconnect with learning, rebuild confidence, and grow in alignment with their unique needs and identities.