The Governing Body
Who are we?
We are volunteers and we come from every section of the community. Tarnerland's governing body is made up of 12 people including staff, parents, local authority and community representatives.
In a nutshell we are here to help the school provide the best possible education for the children.
We support and encourage all aspects of nursery life by acting as a "critical friend". By that we mean we fully support our headteacher, Louise, but also ask important and difficult questions. We are an integral part of life at the school. We celebrate the nursery's many successes and achievements.
Ella Turner, Chair of Governors, co-opted govenor, current term 2025 to 2029
Ella is a former primary assistant headteacher and school improvement consultant. She grew up in Hanover in the 1980s and attended Tarnerland herself as a child. She started as a governor when her daughter started nursery in 2006 and has been here ever since.
She loves the nursery’s long tradition of supporting families in the Tarner community and the amazing outdoor space. She feels privileged to spend time with the staff and children and see the hard work that goes into making Tarnerland such a special place. She has been Chair of Governors since 2021.
Chris Chapman, Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee, co-opted govenor, current term 2022 to 2026
Penny Dunne, Chair of Finance Committee, co-opted govenor, current term 2023 to 2027
Joanne Marron, co-opted govenor, current term 2024 to 2028
Joanne is a teacher at Westdene Primary School in Brighton where she has worked for over 10 years. Joanne has built up a wealth of experience teaching in both nursery and reception and has led the foundation stage and been a member of senior leadership for over 5 years.
As a practitioner, leader and school governor, Joanne believes excellent Early Years teaching and pedagogy can impact positively on all children's futures.
Joanne is currently seconded as the Early Years Specialist for the Education and Standards Team at Brighton and Hove City Council. In this post, she offers support, consultancy and guidance to schools across the city. Joanne also leads two Early Years cluster groups where she facilitates practitioners connecting and sharing best practice.
Joanne is excited to join the governance team at Tarnerland and make a positive contribution to such a beautiful and vibrant setting where Early Years is so valued.
Samira Vance, co-opted governor, current term 2024 to 2028
Samira started her teaching career in Brighton and Hove with a PGCE in Primary Education at Brighton University after doing a BA in Law and Human Rights at the University of Essex.
Samira has taught at Elm Grove Primary School (where she was also the English as an Additional Language Coordinator) and then moved to Bangkok, Thailand where she taught across four key stages, including Early Years, in British international schools.
Most recently, Samira was the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at King's College International School Bangkok and is the founder of the Thailand DEI Hub.
Samira has also been providing training and consultancy to senior leaders and safeguarding leads. She is particularly interested in the safeguarding of minoritised groups, community engagement, curriculum development and, professional development and wellbeing of staff.
Samira is excited to join the board and looks forward to working with governors in such a wonderful setting.
Louise Collings, headteacher governor
Louise joined Tarnerland as headteacher in September 2023. Her background is originally as a teacher in primary schools where the majority of her experience was within Early Years and where she progressed to EYFS lead and then deputy headteacher. Following this, Louise spent 10 years working as a specialist teacher for the Brighton and Hove Inclusion Support Service Early Years team, leading this team as senior teacher for 2 years. Louise is committed to improving children's outcomes and feels privileged to be playing such an important part in this vibrant community.
Jackie Poulton, co-opted governor, current term 2024 to 2028
Jackie has been the nursery manager at Tarnerland since 2016 but has worked in childcare for 31 years, starting as a trainee practitioner. She spent 13 of those years managing a team and leading practice for Early Years in Children's Centres in East Sussex, working with families from pregnancy, supporting positive parenting in stay and play groups, delivering training to staff and families regarding accidents in the home for CAPT and promoting and supporting positive feeding (breast and bottle) for UNICEF.
Could this be you?
We have a vacancy for a co-opted governor.
We would love our governing body to reflect the diverse lived experience of our school community. No particular experience is needed and all training is given. We welcome interest from anyone and especially people from marginalised groups.
Contact ellaturner@tarnerland.brighton-hove.sch.uk for more information.
To find out more about school governance and what the role includes:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkn6wzCIq2ylSji8OJtD_7-tOrBIpwyYY