A greeting from our Chair of Governors - Mr Damian Collins

"Every school has a board of governors, and Turncroft Nursery School is no exception. The board is made up of a chairman/ woman, a vice chair and a group of people taken from members of staff, parents, and co- opted people who have shown an interest, and who have special talents or experience to offer.
We meet each term to look at all the things that have happened in the past weeks. The Headteacher gives a detailed report about the school and is able to answer any questions that may crop up,  or consider any suggestions a member may put forward.
We look at the finances, staffing, buildings, alterations to timetables etc... We play a full part in decision making and feel that we are important members of the Turncroft Team.
The meetings are interesting and informative.  There are usually biscuits too!"

Here are details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Turncroft Nursery School

Governing Body

Name	Expiry Date	Address
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (1) Cllr Anthony Shaw	13/09/2027	c/o Turncroft Nursery School Highfield Road Darwen BB3 2DN 01254 701534
Headteacher (1) Mrs Gayle Berry		As Above
Staff (1) Miss Jennifer Murphy	31/08/2025	As Above
Parents (2) Mrs Tracey Smith Mrs Rebecca Whalley	06/06/2028 06/06/2028	As Above As Above
Co-opted (4) Damian Collins (Chair) Cllr Lillian Salton (Vice chair) Linda Lawrence Trudy Jones	21/06/2026 10/09/2027 31/08/2025 19/03/2028	As Above As Above As Above As Above
Associate Members  (1) Mrs Lisa McIver (Finance)	N/A	As Above

 

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Name: Mr Damian Collins (Chair)

Type of Governor: Co-opted

Register of Business Interests: None - (26/11/24)

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Governance role in other schools: None

Relationships with Governors or school staff: Brother in law of Office Manager - (12/11/19)

Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Staff dismissal/discipline, Appeals, Pupil discipline. Admissions panel,  Finance and pay. Foundation curriculum. Premises (health and safety). Personnel. Head's performance management. Pay appeals, grievances. SEN and Gifted and Talented. Safeguarding and drugs education.

Commencement of Role: 2018

• I have been involved in education for over 28 years and have been a Deputy Headteacher, SENCo and Head of Department
• I am passionate about education and opportunities for all children
• I am married with two grown up children and two cats
• I enjoy reading, listening to music and hill walking

Name: Cllr Lillian Salton (Vice Chair)

Type of Governor: Co-opted

Register of Business Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Governance role in other schools: Chair of Governors at St James' Primary School Lower Darwen

Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Admissions

Commencement of Role: 2020

• I taught in Blackburn for over 40 years being head of a local infant department for 17 years.                                 
• I am a local Councillor and work alongside Children’s Services. 
• I enjoy working with all children and I am a member of various local organisations. 
• In my leisure time I enjoy keeping fit, visiting the theatre and reading.  I also love visiting new places both at home & abroad. 

Name: Mrs Gayle Berry                                          

Type of Governor: Headteacher

Register of Business Interests: None - 

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - 

Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - 

Governance role in other schools: 

Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Safeguarding, Admissions, Finance and Pay, Curriculum, Premises, Personnel, Equality and Children in Our Care

Commencement of Role: 2023

• Information to follow

Name:  Linda Lawrence                                                                   

Type of Governor: Co-opted

Register of Business Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Governance role in other schools: None

Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - (26/11/2024)

Responsibilities on the Governing Body:  Personnel/Admissions Panel

Commencement of Role:  2009

• I am married with 3 children
• I have been a Cub Leader for over 25 years
• I love learning new skills, especially in I.T.
• I previously worked at Turncroft Nursery school for over 25 years

Name: Mrs Lisa McIver

Type of Governor: Associate Member (No voting rights)

Register of Business Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Governance role in other schools: None

Relationships with Governors or school staff: Sister in Law to Vice Chair - (12/11/19)

Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Admissions, Finance & Pay and Personnel

Commencement of Role: 2003

• I have been married for over 25 years and have two children
• In my spare time I enjoy reading and walks with my Dog Millie 
• I have worked at Turncroft Nursery School for over 20 years
• I am very proud to have been part of Turncroft's 'Outstanding' achievements over the years

Name: Miss Jenny Murphy

Type of Governor: Staff

Register of Business Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Governance role in other schools: None

Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - (26/11/2024)

Responsibilities on the Governing Body: to be confirmed

Commencement of Role: 2018

• Before my teaching career I worked as a nursery practitioner in a nursery for 5 years
• I previously taught at St Barnabas Primary School in 2017/18. I started my teaching career there as an NQT in a year 1 class.
• I am passionate about the Early Years Foundation Stage and committed to providing high quality experiences for all children
• I enjoy keeping fit and healthy. I attend the gym regularly, attend classes and enjoy running
• I love working at Turncroft Nursery School and I am proud to be part of the school

Name: Mrs Trudy Jones 

Type of Governor: Co-opted Governor

Register of Business Interest: None - (26/11/2024)

Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (26/11/2024)

Governance Role in other school: None

Relationship with Governors or School Staff: None - (01/04/22)

Commencement of Role: April 2022

• I am married with 2 grown up children and 2 grandchildren
• I was a parent governor at both the primary and secondary schools my children attended
• I have worked for Blackburn with Darwen as a specialist SEND practitioner for the Early Years Team for over 20 years
• I have lived in Darwen for 2 years and Blackburn for over 30 years
• I enjoy the cinema, eating out, walking and going on holidays
• I am looking forward to being a governor at Turncroft Nursery School

 

Turncroft Nursery School

Governing Body Committees

Statutory Committees

Disciplinary and Staff Dismissal         - Any 3 Governors not involved(not staff or Teaching Governors)

Appeals                                                        - Any 3 Governors not involved(not staff or Teaching Governors)

Pupil Discipline                                         - Any 3 Governors not involved(not staff or Teaching Governors)                                                       

Other Committees

Admissions Panel                               - Mr Collins, Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mrs Lawrence, Cllr  Lillian Salton

Finance and Pay                                 -  Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mr Collins, Mrs McIver

Curriculum                                           - Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mr Collins, Miss Murphy

Premises                                               -  Mr Collins, Mrs Gayle Berry, Cllr Salton

Personnel                                             - Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mr Collins, Mrs Lawrence, Mrs McIver                      

Heads Performance Review          - Mr Collins (Chair), Cllr Salton

Pay Appeals                                         - Any 3 Governors not involved (not staff or Teaching Governors)

Grievance                                             - Any 3 Governors not involved (not staff or Teaching Governors)                                        

Designated Responsibilities

SEN & Gifted and Talented               Safeguarding                       Link                                   Equality            

            Mr Collins                                    Mr Collins                        Cllr Salton                         Mrs L Lawrence                                   

Children in our Care                      Extended Schools                Health & Safety

    Mrs Gayle Berry                                                                  

Full Governing Body Meeting Dates and People in Attendance

Name of Governor	16/11/22	14/03/23	13/06/23	07/11/23	19/03/24	11/06/24
Mrs Gayle Berry (headteacher) (15/04/2024)				/	/
Mrs Celia Rushton (Chair) Retired 14/03/23	/	/	Retired	-	-
Mrs Kathryn Bolton (Headteacher) Started 01/01/2023 - 31/08/23	/	/	/	Left	-
Mr Damian Collins 06/11/18 (Chair)	AA	/	/	/	AA
Mrs Linda Lawrence	/	/	/	/	AA
Mrs Michelle Brindle (resigned 14/03/23)	AA	Resigned	-	-	-
Mrs Marion Fort	/	/	/	/	/
Mrs Lisa McIver	/	/	/	/	/
Miss Jenny Murphy	/	/	/	/	/
Cllr Lillian Salton  (Vice Chair)	AA	/	/	AA	/
Mrs Trudy Jones (Parent) April 2022	/	/	/	AA	/
Miss Naomi Woodhouse (Parent) April 2022	/	/	/	/	/
Mrs Elizabeth Shears  (Headteacher) Retired 31/12/22	/	Retired	-	-	-
Mrs Kathryn Clayton-Young (01/09/23 - 14/03/24 (Exec Headteacher)				/	/
Mrs Gayle Berry (01/09/23 - 14/03/24) Acting Headteacher				/	/

/ = present; AA = apologies accepted; AWA = absent without apologies