Local Governing Body

Chair & Vice Chair of Governors

• Chair of Governors: Ross Thompson
• Vice Chair of Governors: Toni Cox

Governors Areas of Responsibilities

• Safeguarding: Toni Cox (Vice Chair)
• Spirituality: Samantha Moseley
• Standards: Danielle Cooper
• SEND: Ross Thompson (Chair)
• Stakeholders: Sheila Hammerton

About our Governors

Danielle Cooper

I first became interested in school governance when my son started school, which led me to take on the role of parent governor. A few years later, I made the transition from working in the business sector to becoming a Learning Support Assistant (LSA).

Although teaching had always been a consideration, my role as an LSA gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of a school, the expectations, demands, and rewards of the profession. During this time, I became a staff governor and also began my teacher training.

I thoroughly enjoy teaching and working with children in the classroom, but my role as a governor has given me a broader perspective on the crucial role of governance. A strong governing body is vital in ensuring that pupils’ needs remain at the heart of all strategic decisions.

One of the achievements I am most proud of during my time as a governor was contributing to the introduction of an SEMH provision onsite.

Balancing the dual roles of teacher and governor has reinforced my understanding of the importance of supporting all children and ensuring that provision is in place when mainstream approaches are not meeting their needs.

Sheila Hammerton

Following graduation I qualified as a psychiatric social worker at the University of Leeds. By 1973, Social Services had been established and from then on I worked mainly in childcare, usually where there was a mental health element.

We moved to London, where I worked in Brixton prior to having children, and later at Kings College Hospital and Peckham.

I moved to Manningtree in 1983, joining the fostering team based in Colchester. After five years, I joined the children’s social work team in Ipswich Hospital, with particular responsibility for children with special needs and the Special Care Baby Unit. Finally, I returned to Colchester to join the Adoption Team.

My work involved preparing, assessing, matching and supporting adopters, assessing and matching children with families, and working with birth parents whose children were being placed for adoption.

I was a governor for Spring Meadow Primary School from 2012 until 2020, with responsibility over time for SEN, Early Years, the Nursery and laterly Safeguarding.

Child protection and safeguarding have always been an integral part of my work. I am used to and value working in multidisciplinary settings.

I developed skills in assessment and report writing for Court and Adoption Panels, but most of all my experiences have taught me a great deal about children. The recognition that all children are individuals, whose early experiences combined with their genetic predisposition, have a huge impact on children’s development and ability to learn.

Through my experience of matching children with new families, I became aware of the importance of assessment. As a governor for the SEND team, I observed how they used the tools available to identify children’s needs and implement a plan tailored to their individual way of learning, rather than simply giving them a label.

My initial motivation to become a governor came from experiences supporting adopters, where some schools assumed that once a child was placed with a loving family, their behaviour changed overnight. I wanted to help dispel this myth.

Fortunately, this was not something I experienced at Spring Meadow. Having become a governor, I realised how much I enjoyed being part of a community committed to providing the best primary education possible, enabling disadvantaged children to achieve beyond expectation.

In addition, recognising that children who have experienced trauma and neglect do not always behave and learn in conventional ways means their education often requires a different approach. Including carers in that process is also beneficial.

I am retired, married with three children and five living grandchildren. I enjoy Nordic walking, theatre, cinema, art and art history, gardening, food, cooking and travel.

Samantha Moseley

I have worked in education for over twenty years, including six years as a Headteacher in Harwich.

Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to promoting high standards in education, with a strong focus on inclusion, equality and diversity.

Prior to becoming a Headteacher, I worked as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator and class teacher across a range of schools within the Tendring District, gaining extensive experience in supporting pupils with diverse needs and working collaboratively with families and professionals.

I have a strong belief in the power of community and in the importance of partnership working between local schools. This has been a key motivation for volunteering as a Governor at The Haefen.

I am passionate about ensuring that all children and young people are provided with opportunities to succeed, particularly those who require specialist provision.

I feel privileged to contribute my professional experience and knowledge to support the strategic direction of The Haefen and to work alongside fellow Governors to ensure the very best outcomes for pupils and families.

Ross Thompson

I am a dedicated and passionate professional with over 20 years of experience in the Children and Families sector, specifically focused on supporting some of the most vulnerable in Essex.

My career has been defined by a deep commitment to improving outcomes for children and working in partnership with schools, families and services.

Currently I am a Children’s Operations Manager at an organisation that provides domiciliary care for adults and non-school alternative provision for children with complex SEND.

Prior to this I worked within Essex County Council as a lead on Section 19 Otherwise and as a Specialist for North-East Essex, overseeing exclusions and medical referrals. This was a strategic, solution-focused and commissioning role with daily contact with Headteachers and multi-agencies.

Prior to this I managed a small team within the SEND Operations Department that oversaw the administration of the Education, Health and Care needs assessment process.

In my mid-to-late twenties I was a senior manager at an Independent School in Essex that supported pupils with statements of SEND.

I believe I lead by example and with a can-do approach which combines professionalism with a warm and approachable manner.

Throughout my career I have developed the ability to navigate complex systems, build partnerships and advocate for inclusion.

I look forward to bringing insight, operational experience and genuine passion for specialist education to the LIFE Education Trust and, most importantly, to The Haefen Independent SEMH SEND School.

Toni Cox

For over 15 years, Toni worked for a number of London-based advertising agencies as a Media Manager and Media Director.

Toni later established a promotions company working with Sodexo, implementing promotions across their client portfolio including the NHS, BP, Ford and News International.

After selling the business, Toni retrained and worked as a Home School Support Worker for the London Borough of Havering, engaging hard-to-reach families, raising attendance of disadvantaged students and helping establish the My Time Project, the precursor to Pupil Premium.

Toni joined Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls as Inclusion Manager and Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the school, establishing an Alternative Provision for students who struggled to attend mainstream school on a full-time basis, with timetables tailored to their needs.

Following the success of this provision, Frances Bardsley was asked to take over the Havering Medical Tuition Centre.

In 2018, the Trust was granted Independent School Status for The Bridge and Toni became Head of School.

Toni served as Head of School from 2018 to 2023 before stepping down to take on the role of Safeguarding Advisor to LIFE Education Trust, a post held for two years before retiring.