Meet the Governors
The Governing Body of Grandpont Nursery and Daycare is made up of volunteers who come together to work in partnership with staff and parents in the best interests of the children.
The Governors, together with the Headteacher, are responsible for the strategic direction of the school whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school and is accountable to the Governors.
Governors are committed to making sure that Safeguarding is effective, that all children feel safe at school.
The Governing Body meets six times a year and has three core functions:
ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
holding school leaders to account for the educational progression and development of the children, as well as the supervision and performance management of staff
overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Our Governing Body is organised into two subcommittees that focus on specific areas of the school:
The Performance and Standards Committee
The main function of this Committee is to challenge attainment levels in the school. We receive reports from school leaders about the progress and attainment of the children and we monitor the impact on children’s learning of special funding such as Special Educational Needs (SEN) funding and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding. We look in depth at the curriculum that is taught, and the quality of teaching the children receive.
The Resources Committee
This Committee oversees the financial management of the school and looks at all issues related to the site and premises and health and safety at the school. We work closely with the Headteacher and the School Business Manager to ensure we spend our budget wisely and with the most impact on the children's learning. The Resources Committee also scrutinises personnel issues and considers what the best staffing structure for the school is.
Governors are happy to be approached at any time and are usually present at school events. Alternatively, they can be contacted by letter or email via the school office. Appointments can be made to meet them if required.
Agendas and Minutes from Governor meetings are available to view on the notice board in reception, or a copy can be made available on request. Governors are always willing to listen to any views, suggestions or concerns that are brought to them.
Meet our Governors
Below are the members of the governing body, and where relevant, their roles at Grandpont. They can be contacted via the office.
Chair - John Palmer - appointed 16 May 2023
Brad Baines (Co-opted Governor) - appointed 24 November 2020
Brad is the local County Councillor for South Oxford and has been a governor at Grandpont Nursery School. His passion for education derives from his mum’s background as a primary school teacher and his experiences volunteering at an after-school club and nursery as well as a young people’s charity. He currently works in public campaigns.
Yan Wong (Co-opted Governor, Curriculum Governor) - appointed 1 March 2013
I’m a local dad often seen out and about in Marlborough Road. Grandpont is very much in my heart, as my two daughters, one now in secondary and one still in primary school, benefitted when younger from the fantastic provision in the Family Room, Daycare, and the Nursery School. I have been a governor at Grandpont since 2013, with a focus on Grandpont’s role in the community, and the Family Room in particular. I’m currently chair of the Grandpont Nursery School Association (GNSA), our associated charity. Work-wise, I am a scientist, and have had multiple jobs including university lecturer, popular science writer, and presenter of science on TV and radio. My specialism is biology, focusing on natural history and genetics, and I currently work in this area in one of the Oxford University research institutes.
Taryn Grant (Parent Governor, Safeguarding) - appointed 25 January 2022
Francesca Tedeschi (Co-opted Governor, Health & Safety Governor) - appointed 1 September 2021
I've been living in Oxford for more than 10 years, and moved to Grandpont shortly before my (now) almost 5-year old daughter was borne. She attended Grandpont nursery-that she absolutely loved - and now is in Reception year at St Ebbe's. I'm a full-time business professional in the energy sector, where I help investors and other sector stakeholders navigating around the economics, and the implications of policies on their investments. I joined the Board as a governor in 2020 with the objective of offering my contribution and support to the school.
Sarah Mason (Staff Governor) - appointed 23 November 2021
Amber Grant (Parent Governor) - appointed 31 January 2023
Carol Lister (Co-opted Governor) - appointed 20 March 2023
Nick Swarbrick (Co-opted Governor) - appointed 14 March 2023
Governing body meetings
Governing body meetings are typically held between 19.00pm and 21.00pm, usually at Grandpont (but have recently been held remotely on Google Meet due to Covid-19). Dates of future meetings and attendance records of previous meetings are downloadable below.
Finances
The governing body has a finance and resources committee which is responsible for overseeing the budget of the centre as a whole. Our financial benchmarking webpage on the government financial benchmarking service is here.