08:35 PM MONDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2024 THE NURSERY SCHOOL IS CLOSED THE CHILDREN'S CENTRE IS CLOSED
                   

OUR GOVERNORS

The governors meet at least twice a term

Oliver Thomas Nursery School Governing Board

Our governors work with us to ensure Oliver Thomas is a place to be happy, challenged and unique. Our governors come from a variety of backgrounds and give their time freely. They are dedicated to our school and children’s centre and are committed to supporting us to become the best provision possible.

Governors are our ‘critical friends’, who are there to question, offer advice, support and challenge.  The board is legally responsible for agreeing and monitoring the school budget.  The role of the governing board is strategic.  Its core functions are to:

  • Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
  • Hold school leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
  • To oversee the financial performance of the nursery and make sure that our money is well spent.

Our full governing board usually meets twice a term and the finance committee meets once a term. Governors are appointed for either three- or four-year terms, which can be renewed. Parent governors are elected by parents of pupils; co-opted governors are appointed by the governing board; a staff governors is elected by staff; an Authority governor is appointed by the local authority; and the headteacher is appointed by virtue of her office.

Our governing board is currently composed of the following people:

Parent Governors

Ms Michaela Primus – term of office ends 22.06.2026

Vacancy

Co-opted Governors

Miss Julie-ann Nicholls – (Chair of Governors) – term of office ends: 07.10.2026
Mr Nicholas Aimee – (Vice-Chair) term of office ends: 19.03.2026
Ms Nalineesvary Subramaniam – term of office ends: 09.03.2027
Mr Justin Placide: co-chair of finance, Safeguarding, LAC – term of office ends: 04.03.2025
Ms Marcela Leite:  co-chair of finance, SEN, Accessibility Action Plan – term of office ends: 04.03.2025

Local Authority Governor

Lakmini Shah

Staff Governors

Ms Jo Edwards – term of office ends: 06/05/2028

Financial information

Employee Salary Information

Maintained schools are now required to publish salary information on any employee earning over £100,000 per annum.  This is to confirm that no member of staff at Oliver Thomas Nursery School and children’s centre is paid this figure.

Schools Financial Benchmarking

Please click here to see the financial benchmarking information for Oliver Thomas Nursery School.

Governors attendance at meetings

Structure of the governing board

Declarations of Interest

The Governors

Julie-Ann Nicholls - Chair of Governors

On behalf of the governing body, I would like to welcome you and your child to Oliver Thomas. We are honoured to be working closely with the school and its families.

We believe that young children deserve the best possible start in life and know that if we work in partnership with parents and families that we can make a big difference. We recognise that you are your child’s first educator and together we can support your child’s ongoing health, wellbeing, and future learning.

“Our job is too difficult and too beautiful to do alone.”

Amelia Gambetti, Reggio Emilia

Justin Placide - Looked After Children

Justin is Head of Home Energy Retrofit Enablers Team from The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

He is also an Oliver Thomas Nursery School governor, Safeguarding lead and part of the finance working group.

Full Bio

Marcela Leite - SEN & Inclusion

“Marcela joined our school as a co-opted governor in 2021, and is our Inclusion lead and part of the Finance Committee.

She is currently a Community Engagement and Projects Officer for Hackney Council, having worked previously in educational governance in Newham for a number of years. She is passionate about social-environmental justice and has co-developed grassroots projects in the UK and her native Brazil.”

Nicholas Aimee - Health, wellbeing

I was born in Mauritius and settled in the UK twenty years ago, I have two children one is at university and the other one at college.

My background is engineering and health and safety with a lot of experience in educational establishments and construction. I was formerly employed by Oliver Thomas where I worked for ten years before moving on to a new challenge. This means I understand well, the ethos there and know the building and maintenance side of things very well. I offer my expertise and support as part of the governing body.

I work with a lot of stakeholders and external consultants on matters related to buildings and health and safety issues and I have developed a mentality of being solution focussed. Great leaders often develop their leadership style and create a vision for the future where staff feel welcomed and engaged in delivering a positive outcome. Through my own journey of self-awareness and through my leadership course, I have further developed my own and other diverse views and values around being fair and considerate when dealing with difficult decisions as well as creating a climate and culture of being valued and inclusive to all.

I am still working in the education sector and my aim has always been to support the local authority and my employer to deliver high quality education in the safest and welcoming environment.

Here to help, Happy to help.

Michaela Primus - Parent Governor

I am a local parent of two children – one of whom is a young child with complex needs at Oliver Thomas Nursery School.

I have a background in Primary education as an experienced teacher, Middle Leader and Curriculum leader and I am particularly passionate about children’s welfare and developing children’s literacy and communication skills.

I am committed to helping all children enjoy learning about the world around them and supporting them to develop the skills necessary to thrive.

Lakmini Shah - Local Authority Governor

I am Lakmini Shah, I am dedicated to fostering positive change and advancement within our community. As an elected member representing the East Ham South ward, I stand as a beacon of integrity and advocacy for the constituents I proudly serve.

My journey encompasses a figure in educational governance. I have held positions as a school authority governor for schools such as Brampton Manor, Plashet Girls’ School, and NCS Collegiate. Presently, I am at Roman Rd School and Oliver Thomas Nursery as their local authority governor.

For three decades, East Ham has been my home, nurturing my passion for community enrichment and educational enlightenment. My academic education is from Friendship University of Russia and Tashkent State University, culminating in the attainment of a profound understanding of Education Studies at UEL.

In the realm of public service, I have held cabinet portfolios dedicated to safeguarding children, fostering work & skills development, and championing the prevention of domestic violence. My endeavors transcend borders, as I actively engage in transformative gender equality initiatives on the global stage, effecting profound policy and legislative reforms.

As a proud parent to three accomplished young adults, who completed their nursery education at Oliver Thomas Nursery. I strongly believe in sculpting educational outcomes that not only pave the path to prosperous careers but also nurture robust personalities and cultivate conscientious citizens, devoted to the betterment of our shared society.

Yours sincerely

Lakmini Shah

The Governors

Julie-Ann Nicholls

On behalf of the governing body, I would like to welcome you and your child to Oliver Thomas. We are honoured to be working closely with the school and its families.

We believe that young children deserve the best possible start in life and know that if we work in partnership with parents and families that we can make a big difference. We recognise that you are your child’s first educator and together we can support your child’s ongoing health, wellbeing, and future learning.

“Our job is too difficult and too beautiful to do alone.”

Amelia Gambetti, Reggio Emilia

Justin Placide

Justin is Head of Home Energy Retrofit Enablers Team from The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

He is also an Oliver Thomas Nursery School governor, Safeguarding lead and part of the finance working group.

Full Bio

Marcela Leite

“Marcela joined our school as a co-opted governor in 2021, and is our Inclusion lead and part of the Finance Committee.

She is currently a Community Engagement and Projects Officer for Hackney Council, having worked previously in educational governance in Newham for a number of years. She is passionate about social-environmental justice and has co-developed grassroots projects in the UK and her native Brazil.”

Nicholas Aimee

I was born in Mauritius and settled in the UK twenty years ago, I have two children one is at university and the other one at college.

My background is engineering and health and safety with a lot of experience in educational establishments and construction. I was formerly employed by Oliver Thomas where I worked for ten years before moving on to a new challenge. This means I understand well, the ethos there and know the building and maintenance side of things very well. I offer my expertise and support as part of the governing body.

I work with a lot of stakeholders and external consultants on matters related to buildings and health and safety issues and I have developed a mentality of being solution focussed. Great leaders often develop their leadership style and create a vision for the future where staff feel welcomed and engaged in delivering a positive outcome. Through my own journey of self-awareness and through my leadership course, I have further developed my own and other diverse views and values around being fair and considerate when dealing with difficult decisions as well as creating a climate and culture of being valued and inclusive to all.

I am still working in the education sector and my aim has always been to support the local authority and my employer to deliver high quality education in the safest and welcoming environment.

Here to help, Happy to help.

Michaela Primus

I am a local parent of two children – one of whom is a young child with complex needs at Oliver Thomas Nursery School.

I have a background in Primary education as an experienced teacher, Middle Leader and Curriculum leader and I am particularly passionate about children’s welfare and developing children’s literacy and communication skills.

I am committed to helping all children enjoy learning about the world around them and supporting them to develop the skills necessary to thrive.

Lakmini Shah

I am Lakmini Shah, I am dedicated to fostering positive change and advancement within our community. As an elected member representing the East Ham South ward, I stand as a beacon of integrity and advocacy for the constituents I proudly serve.

My journey encompasses a figure in educational governance. I have held positions as a school authority governor for schools such as Brampton Manor, Plashet Girls’ School, and NCS Collegiate. Presently, I am at Roman Rd School and Oliver Thomas Nursery as their local authority governor.

For three decades, East Ham has been my home, nurturing my passion for community enrichment and educational enlightenment. My academic education is from Friendship University of Russia and Tashkent State University, culminating in the attainment of a profound understanding of Education Studies at UEL.

In the realm of public service, I have held cabinet portfolios dedicated to safeguarding children, fostering work & skills development, and championing the prevention of domestic violence. My endeavors transcend borders, as I actively engage in transformative gender equality initiatives on the global stage, effecting profound policy and legislative reforms.

As a proud parent to three accomplished young adults, who completed their nursery education at Oliver Thomas Nursery. I strongly believe in sculpting educational outcomes that not only pave the path to prosperous careers but also nurture robust personalities and cultivate conscientious citizens, devoted to the betterment of our shared society.

Yours sincerely

Lakmini Shah