The Governing Board is part of the Leadership and Management team at York Road. It has three core functions; planning the strategic direction of the school, overseeing its financial performance and making sure money is being well spent, and holding the head and senior leadership to account. The Governing Board does not run the school on a day to day basis, that is the job of the Head and their team.

The Full Governing Board meets at least three times per year, once per term. At York Road we also have two sub-committees, one that is responsible for Finances and Resources and the other Curriculum and Standards. They also meet at least once per term.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor at York Road or finding out more about what we do please get in touch: head@yorkroad.herts.sch.uk

Diane Frainer (DF)	Head
Carole Connelly	Chair of Governors/Safeguarding Link – Member of Finance and Resources Committee
Diane Szanto (DS)	Staff Governor – Member of Standards & Curriculum Committee
Emily Cunningham (EC)	Parent Governor – Member of Standards & Curriculum Committee
Lisa Morris (LM)	Member of Finance and Resources Committee
Haider Mawji (HM)	Associate – Member of Finance and Resources Committee
Shirley Parker	Co-opted Governor – Member of Standards & Curriculum Committee
Mike Scott	Parent Governor – Finance and Resources Committee Chair
Dan Ward	Health & Safety Link Governor
Rich Tyler	Shadow Safeguarding Link Governor

Governors

Diane Szanto

Diane Szanto - Staff Governor Member of Standards & Curriculum Committee

After my sisters attending the nursery back in the 60’s, myself doing a year of my N.N.E.B. training here and both my own children attending the nursery in the 90’s.

I was very pleased to join the nursery as a Nursery Nurse in 2000 and join the Governing body a few years later. It is interesting and rewarding being involved with the Governing body, both as an associate governor and a member of staff, and to be part of decision-making which continues to keep York Road Nursery School the progressive community nursery that it is.

Diane Frainer

I have been the Headteacher at York Road Nursery School since April 2015. I have been working in education since 1999 and have 3 children of my own.

I am passionate about early years and am working in support with the school Governors to take the school forward and continue to raise standards, with a particular emphasis on inclusion.

Shirley Parker

Shirley Parker - Co-opted Governor Member of Standards & Curriculum Committee

I worked as a Secretary and then a Childminder. My three children all came to York Road Nursery and have very fond memories of it.[dt_tooltip title=”MORE”] I joined the team in 1999 and retired as a Key Teacher in the summer of this year but continue with my role as Transitions Co-ordinator on a part time basis, a role which I am passionate about. I am also the Tapestry Co-ordinator, responsible for the personal online Learning Journeys of the children. I hope my experience of working at nursery will be beneficial to the governing body and I look forward to being a part of the decision making and to give something back to the community.[/dt_tooltip]

Lisa Morris

Lisa Morris - Co-opted Governor Member of Finance and Resources Committee

I have been working in PR now for over 15 years, 11 of these running my own PR agency, BumpPR. The agency specialises in family brands and in this role, I manage a small team and a portfolio of 30 clients. We work with small start-ups and global giants, working with varying consumer and business media and social media platforms. When my son went to York Road, I knew instantly there was something special about the nursery school. I wanted to give a little something back to the community so when the opportunity came up to become a governor, I was delighted to take the role.

Mike Scott

Mike Scott - Parent Governor · Finance and Resources Committee Chair

Mike Scott

· Parent Governor

· Finance and Resources Committee Chair

I am a chartered accountant, working in the finance industry for 17 years. For the last 3 years I have been the CFO of a fintech platform business sitting on the board of directors and chairing various committees. I live locally to York Road and got a real sense of community and purpose from the school. My daughter then attended the school from Jan 2021 and I knew what a special place it was. I wanted to do whatever I could to help

Haider Mawji

Haider Mawji - Associate Member of Finance and Resources Committee

I have been a governor here at York Road for over 8 years, sitting on the Finance Committee. In my professional life I have experienced a high-energy career to date, managing at all levels and in the last 20 years have worked with various clients as a Finance Director operating at Board level. My strong ability to innovate and question has been fundamental to successfully developing, re-engineering and managing financial operations and divisions in the UK and Internationally. I have demonstrated the ability to manage costs and cash flow tightly, at the same time, establishing and building partnerships externally internally and with stakeholders. I have enjoyed applying my financial expertise and knowledge to critique and help develop financial plans and strategies for York Road Nursery. I have found the opportunity to contribute to my local community through my role as school governor here at York Road to be very rewarding. I feel honoured and proud to be, a very small, part of a school that Ofsted has consistently awarded “outstanding”, but more importantly creates an environment that nurtures, excites and enthuses children on their educational pathway.

Emily Cunningham

Emily Cunningham - Parent Governor Member of Standards & Curriculum Committee

My role includes supporting the Headteacher with interviews to ensure the most suitable people are employed to work at York Road Nursery. I have helped out with staff wellness events that help to boost staff morale and I have supported the school curriculum through learning walks, visits to the school and helped by raising money through the Waitrose supporting local businesses scheme. I also really enjoy attending the Governor meetings and attending school events. II have been a Primary and Early Years teacher for many years in London before having two children and now I work locally as a Supply Teacher. I wanted to be a Governor of York Road because firstly I chose this school for my son and he had a really excellent time here and I wanted to play a part in the school community.

Richard Tyler

Parent Governor - Shadow Safeguarding Link Governor

I am a solicitor and qualified 11 years ago as a litigator in a US law firm in London. Since then I have worked as an in-house lawyer in multiple businesses covering a broad spectrum of legal work, and I am currently Legal Director at a large consumer goods company. When my daughter joined York Road Nursery School, it was clear from the start that it was a outstanding school with a wonderful community around it. When the opportunity arose to become a governor I was delighted to be able to give something back and contribute to the future success of the school.

Full Governing Body: