We can help your school or setting to:

We can also work directly with parents to:

Our structure and governance

There are currently three Directors. The Directors have conducted an annual review of their skills to inform the recruitment of future Directors and are currently exploring possible further Directors. The Directors are responsible for setting the aims and direction of the Foundation, but have delegated the day-to-day management to the Executive Director.

The Board of Directors meets quarterly. PEN employs 3 staff and other freelance workers. PEN’s governing document is the Memorandum of Association. You can download a copy of this here.

Janet Davies – Managing Director

Janet has 30 years’ experience in  teaching, managing and leading schools, settings and clusters across all phases. Janet strives to support and create inclusive learning communities which promote achievement for all.

Fiona O’Sullivan – Director

Fiona O’Sullivan has 30 years’ parenting experience as mother and step mother to 5 children. She has spent four years as academy principal in secondary schools in challenging circumstances. She has a total of 27 years teaching experience in greater Manchester across 4 local authorities, and 16 years senior leadership experience in secondary education settings. She is a also a qualified nurse and has worked for Children’s services.

Jill Tordoff – Associate

Jill Tordoff has extensive educational experience and her particular expertise is in raising the aspirations, access and achievement of underachieving pupils and working in partnership with parent/carers to help promote improved learning and well-being. Jill has had a wide range of roles as a teacher and leader in a range of schools and within Manchester local authority supporting school improvement. Currently Jill works as an independent education consultant.

Erica Splawnyk – Associate

Erica has worked as a Nursery Nurse at Hollingworth Primary School and St. Clement’s Primary school with responsibility for parental involvement. She developed and managed a Parent Teacher Association, Family Learning Projects and a variety of parenting courses (including those for families of children with special needs) in school and local children’s centres.

Erica has also worked for Manchester City Council managing the primary strand of the successful ‘Transition Project’. She has developed and delivered courses on engaging parents in their children’s learning (particularly vulnerable families) and has helped develop practical resources.

She worked for 4 years as a Parent Education tutor for Manchester Adult Education Services. Erica has also trained, mentored and supervised Parent Support Advisors and Outreach workers. She established Parental Engagement District Networks for staff, agencies and parents across Manchester.

In the community Erica has run a pre-school which involved recruiting and mentoring parents in voluntary work within the setting. She has run parenting courses within the community for staff at local pre-schools and parents/carers and grandparents. She is a community school governor at St. Mary’s Primary school in Stockport.

Helen Beswick – Project Coordinator

Helen is PEN’s friendly Project Coordinator. She has experience of working for small charities and social enterprises in Greater Manchester.

Joanna Bricher – Design and admin

Joanna has worked for PEN since it started in 2011. She designs PEN’s Updates and resources for staff, parents and children.