Governance
Governance
Our governing body works to ensure that BEYA sets high standards by ensuring continuous improvement.
We have a fantastic team of governors at BEYA, who bring an incredible breadth of skill to our nurseries. They have an important role in providing strategic leadership and accountability. Their role is to set the aims and objectives for BEYA, set the policies and targets to meet them, and monitor and evaluate the progress BEYA is making towards reaching them. The BEYA governing body is a source of support and challenge to Kelly Brooker, our Executive Headteacher and senior leadership team to ensure and bring about the absolute best for children and families.
Our current governors are:
Elen Griffiths (Chair of governors) – Co-opted governor
Email: egriffiths@beya.org.uk
Elen became a co-opted governor in 2024 and serves as our acting Chair. Elen has a daughter at Hampden Way. Elen is an in-house lawyer at a large management consultancy firm, with extensive experience in advising on organisational governance and data protection. Elen has previously served as a charity trustee and primary school governor. Elen is passionate about early years literacy.
Nick Mahony – (Vice chair) – LA Governor
Nick Mahony is a social researcher who has worked at The Open University, Birkbeck and UCL as well as on projects with charities and local authorities. He currently works half the week with Young Barnet Foundation supporting capacity building and community development for a network of over 200 not-for-profit organisations that work with children and young people in Barnet. For the other half of the week Nick works as a freelance social researcher, supporting a range of community development and social research projects across the country.
Kelly Brooker – Executive Headteacher
Kelly is the Executive Headteacher of Barnet Early Years Alliance. She has been part of BEYA for over 10 years. Kelly holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood and has spent her entire career working in the field of Early Years Education. Kelly is committed to working with children and families, ensuring that young children receive the highest quality Early Education and a happy childhood.
Kelly’s previous roles include working as an Early Years consultant and an Ofsted Inspector. In these roles Kelly worked to support settings to improve practice. Kelly is a visiting scholar at the University of Middlesex where she teaches on the Early Years Initial Teacher Training programme. Her particular areas of research include children’s Early Literacy skills and observing to understand children through the Tavistock method of Observation. Kelly considers herself an advocate for play based learning to support children’s learning, well-being and happiness.
Anna Theodoulou – Co-opted Governor
Anna is a Co-opted Governor and is currently employed as the School Business Manager at BEYA; she has held this post since September 2017. Prior to this Anna held the post of Administrator of Hampden Way and upon Federation became the Admissions Administrator within BEYA.
Anna is a parent of two boys who previously attended Hampden Way Nursery School. Anna is currently studying for a diploma in School Business Management – Level 4.
Asja Raskovic – C0-opted Governor
Asja is an Outreach Worker at BEYA Children’s Centre. She has over 25 years’ experience supporting families with children under 5 and considers it a joy and privilege.
Asja has a BA in Early Childhood Studies from London Metropolitan University and a level 4 Diploma in Adult Teaching from South Bank University.
In her spare time, Asja enjoys reading, walking, playing piano and the company of her granddaughters.
Janine Medway-Smith – Staff Governor
Janine joined BEYA in September 2015 as an Early Years Educator. She went on to complete her teacher training to become an Early Years Teacher and is currently the Deputy Head and SENCO at BEYA. Janine started her journey in Early Years Education almost 20 years ago as a Registered Childminder before working in a PVI nursery. She has recently completed her NPQSL and National SENCO Award.
Janine’s children attended Brookhill nursery, where she was a parent governor for 4 years. She also attended Brookhill as a child (many years ago!) Janine had a previous 15 year career working as an Art Editor for women’s magazines. She has four children, a golden retriever and loves hiking in the Lake District.
Fumiyo Welsby – Co-opted Governor
Fumiyo has been a co-opted governor for BEYA since March 2019. All three of her daughters have attended Hampden Way Nursery School; the youngest is now in Ruby Room. Currently, Fumiyo is on a career break and is a full-time mum whilst she focuses on raising her young children. She previously used to work in academic research, specializing in epidemiology and medical statistics.
Elaine Kelly – Parent Governor
Elaine became a parent governor in 2021. Her younger son attends Hampden Way and her older son attended Hampden Way before moving on to primary school. Both have attended holiday provision at St Margaret’s and then Brookhill.
Elaine is an economic researcher and works in public policy. Previous work has included projects for the Department for Education, the Education Endowment Foundation and the Children’s Commissioner. The focus of her current work is on health and social care. She has extensive experience in data analysis and working with policymakers.
Annabelle Raza – Parent Governor
Jade Lam – Parent Governor
Eva Kyriacou-Anastasi – Co-opted Governor