What does the Governing Body do?

As a maintained nursery school, all the services offered by Lanterns are overseen by the governing body.   

Governors are strategic leaders within schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education.  Governing bodies have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and direction;
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of the staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The Lanterns Governing Body has a flat governance structure, with nine meetings during each academic year.  Ad-hoc committee meetings (for example, the Pay Committee) also take place as required.

Meet the Governing Body

Lanterns Governing Body is constituted to include at least two parent governors, a local authority governor, a headteacher, a staff governor and up to seven co-opted governors. Each governor takes on a specific role to monitor key governance areas, including safeguarding, curriculum, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Mini Biographies

Briony Allder, Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor

I became the Chair in October 2021, having joined initially as a parent governor, and absolutely love being part of the Lanterns Governing Body. In my day job I am a co-Director of a medico-legal business and bring 15 years experience of working in the public sector as a senior manager, in both operational and strategic roles, to the governing body. My daughter attended Lanterns and thrived, which makes me even more committed to ensuring that the nursery school offers all children the opportunity to achieve their full potential. In my spare time I enjoy reading and creative pursuits.

I can be contacted directly on email at chairofgovernors@lanterns.hants.sch.uk for any queries relating to the Governing Body.

Hayley Nation-Smith, Staff Governor

I joined the governing body in 2022, initially as a Co-opted Governor.  I have since started working at Lanterns and now attend in my capacity as Staff Governor.  All of my children have attended Lanterns, and having been a Reception class teacher and PreSchool Room Leader in a number of settings in and around Winchester, I can really see just how special Lanterns is.  I want to continue to support this unique and nurturing nursery in any way I can.

Emily Townsend, Co-opted Governor

I am the Safeguarding Governor for Lanterns and joined as a Governor in January 2023. I have worked in the education industry for twelve years so am very passionate about the importance of the early years in shaping children for their futures in education and the valuable impact that practitioners have on children of this age. As a local Mum, I have experienced first hand the support from many of the extended services that have partnered with Lanterns over the years, it's a very special place that impacts so many local families. I have a number of years experience in area management, including leading on recruitment, training and development, safeguarding and managing a large team so I bring operational insight and a breadth of transferable skills to the governing board.

Jan Harris, Local Authority Governor

I initially joined Lanterns as clerk to the governors, and really enjoyed being part of the Lanterns Governing Body. As I started to understand Lanterns I found the work and challenges the Nursery faces inspiring. Seeing how much of a critical role they played in the development of their children. and how they prepared the children for their first formal educational step.

I retired from the public sector and worked in both operational and strategic roles with strong links to the safeguarding of both children and adult as well as investigation. I clerk for other schools so benefit from the breadth of knowledge and expertise observed with my other boards and can share best practice and ideas from other schools facing similar challenges. In my spare time I can be found out with my camera or (trying) walking and training my springer spaniel.

Chloe East, Co-opted Governor

I joined the Lanterns governing body in September 2023 as the SEND governor. 

My first career was as a drama teacher, working for 20 years in secondary schools in Hampshire.  Ready for a new challenge, I left teaching to return to university, studying firstly for a master’s degree in psychology, then a PhD.  My thesis involved working with autistic young people to explore their experiences in education.  Collectively we designed resources to help pupils and staff better understand the perspectives of autistic girls.  I now work supporting schools and families with inclusive education.

I have been involved with Lanterns for many years, starting off helping with Friends of Lanterns events before working as supply staff while studying for my master’s.  I am really pleased to continue supporting the wonderful work that Lanterns does for children and families in Winchester.

Emily Fraser-McKenzie, Parent Governor

My journey with Lanterns began in 2023 when my daughter, who requires additional learning support due to her complex genetic condition, joined this nurturing community. The individualised care and support she has received at Lanterns have been extraordinary and inspired me to become a parent governor. 

My background is in healthcare and academia, where I currently work as a midwife sonographer in the NHS and am Chairman of a Cognitive Data Science company. My academic work, including a PhD focused on psychosocial aspects of early parenthood, complements my experience with quality improvement in the NHS.

As a parent governor, I'm privileged to gain insight into Lanterns' operations and strategies. I hope my professional background and experience as a parent allow me to offer fresh perspectives and support the exceptional work at Lanterns.

Vacancies

Do you know someone who wants to make a difference to children and their families, give something back to our community, and use and develop their life skills?

If the answer is yes, then they may be interested in becoming a governor at Lanterns.  We have vacancies for what is termed a co-opted governor, which simply means a governor who is not a parent or staff member at Lanterns.

Governors do not need experience in education, but rather the skills, character, enthusiasm, and time to contribute. We would be particularly interested in recruiting someone with bid writing and marketing skills and/or someone prepared to one day chair the board.  We would also like to increase the diversity of our Governing Body to ensure we fully reflect the makeup of the children and families who we serve.  A full range of training is available through Hampshire Governor Services and all members of the Governing Body take part in an annual training session on a specific topic.

For further details, please email adminoffice@lanterns.hants.sch.uk or call the friendly administrative staff on (01962) 860393.