Governance
Meet the governors
The governors have a common interest in early years education and want to make a positive contribution to education of the children at Batford Nursery School.
The Governing Body of Batford Nursery School comprises a member from the Local Authority, the Headteacher and one staff governor, two parent governors, and six co-opted governors. Governors have equal rights to participate in the work of the Governing Body and to state their own views, but always work together and are bound by the collective decisions of the team. Governors other than the Headteacher are appointed or elected to serve a four-year term of office.
You can find out a little bit about each of our current governors by clicking on their names below:
Rachel is a co-opted governor.
Sarah is a governor ex officio but has been on the governing body for approximately 12 years, previously as a staff governor.
Sarah has been teaching in the primary phase for 30 years with extensive experience of the early years. She has been at Batford Nursery School for 15 years as a teacher, deputy and currently headteacher. She is also a Senior Leader of Education which involves schools to schools support.
Sarah is passionate about early years and feels privileged to be head of this outstanding school. Beyond her working life Sarah has a family with three children to keep her busy and also loves running and has entered many events from muddy runs to marathons.
Nicola grew up in Harpenden and moved back to start her own family. She is a Parent Governor and joined the Governing body in November 2023.
Nicola is a mother of two with her eldest son attending Batford Nursery School. She joined to become more involved in such a caring, nurturing and rewarding setting and to help support the school moving forward.
Professionally, Nicola is a Personal Assistant - a role which requires flexibility, attention to detail, confidentiality and compassion - qualities which she applies to her role on the Governance team, as well as the experience she is gaining as a mother.
Elena is a Co-opted Governor.
Prior to my working career, I studied education and childcare at Degree level. Through these studies, I completed numerous work placements in various early education settings, including nurseries and schools.
I worked in Financial Services in Australia and then the UK, at Rothschild & Co. I spent 12 years heading up their Responsible Business programme, which was centred around levelling up the playing field for young people. I have sat on various Advisory Boards within schools and for charities, and in my role at work established and managed a charity which included its governance.
Iain lives in Harpenden with his family. He is a co-opted Governor who joined the governing body in January 2023.
Iain has a background in the public sector having worked for both local and cental Government. As part of these roles, he has developed a good understanding of the education sector.
He is excited to have joined Batford Nursery and use his experience both as a parent and professionally to support this role.
As a former Batford parent, with fifteen years' experience as an early years teacher, Gail is thrilled to serve as a co-opted Governor at Batford Nursery.
Gail is deeply passionate about play and believes that every child's nursery experience should be filled with wonder, curiosity, and joy.
Gail is looking forward to contributing to the school's continued improvement and development, ensuring that all children have the same enriching nursery journey that her daughter enjoyed.
Laura is the staff governor.
Laura says:
I have been a teacher for almost 30 years, 19 of those years have been spent at Batford Nursery school. I work at the nursery as the SENCO, working closely to support children and their families. When I’m not at school I attempt to keep fit by visiting the gym and I also enjoy walking. I have a lively 9 year old son who keeps me busy! Weekends are spent out and about and we often travel into London to visit various museums and to support the ‘London Lions’ basketball team.
Margaret Stocks is the local authority governor.
Margaret's three children attended Batford Nursery, and she has lived and taught in Harpenden for over 25 years. Margaret is a Nursery Headteacher at another Hertfordshire school.
She writes:
I am passionate about Early Years Education and I firmly believe that children should have the opportunity to be curious learners, explore their environment both inside and out and to have fun. Batford Nursery is a special place and I am looking forward to working with Sarah and the Governing Body to maintain this ethos.
Beyond work, I have three grown up children, who still manage to keep me busy! I enjoy pottering around in my garden, cooking and walking my dog Oscar.
Fiona is a co-opted governor.
Fiona lives in Harpenden with her family and teenage children. She is a co-opted Governor who joined the governing body in December 2023.
Fiona is a Clinical Psychologist and has a background in the NHS in the field of mental health and learning disabilities working in various roles as a clinician and in developing and delivering services. This background has given her a solid understanding of the importance of early years education for the strong emotional, physical and educational development of children.
Fiona is keen to become involved in ensuring young people get the best start in life.
Governors do not manage the school – that is the role of the Headteacher. The Governors aim to support her in doing this but do not shy away from being a ‘critical friend’ and asking searching questions.
Governors are responsible for the ensuring the clarity of vision, ethos & strategic direction of the school and for supporting the Headteacher and her staff in achieving that vision. The governing body holds the leadership of the school to account for the educational performance of the school and its children. Governors also have responsibility for appointing the Headteacher, managing the school’s budget and making sure that money is well spent. In addition to these statutory responsibilities, governors monitor the impact of policies and do a wide variety of other things, either through formal committee activity or through personal involvement with the day-to-day life of the school.
The governing body may also be called upon to consider complaints from parents.
Whilst the role is a voluntary one, the Governing Body expects all governors and prospective governors to be aware of the time commitment required to be an effective governor. Primarily, that commitment arises from:
- Attending meetings of the Governing Body (two evening meetings per term)
- Undertaking training courses relevant to the role of a governor
- Having a particular area of responsibility such as finance, personnel, safeguarding
- Having a link to a particular area of teaching and learning or to a school development plan priority
From October 2023, the governing body has dissolved its two committees and all governors' responsibilities are conducted through the meetings of the whole governing body.
The Governors also attend the Annual General Meeting of Batford Day Care Ltd, representing the school which is the member of the company.
Please note minutes of governing body meetings are available from the school office on request.
2023/24 Governance Statement
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Governance Statement 2024.pdf | Download |
Contact us
To contact the governors, please use the Chair of Governors confidential email address: cog@batfordnursery.herts.sch.uk
Statutory information about governors
Information about governors, their terms of office, any pecuniary interests declared and a record of their attendance at meetings is published annually at the end of the academic year.
The details for the academic year 2023/24 are as follows (old structure*):