Meet the Team
Our team is the foundation of our success
For the team at Heath Lane, teaching early years is much more than a job. We care deeply about children’s happiness and success. Our classrooms are joyful places to be, where children are engaged and teachers give praise and encouragement. We listen to parents and families, and work together with them to help children achieve their full potential.
Find out more about the qualified, experienced leadership team at Heath Lane below.
Clare Herbert- Head of School (Heath Lane) & Inclusion Leader
Clare has worked in primary education for over 20 years. She began her career in Newcastle and Atlanta, USA, although she has spent most of her time in Hertfordshire schools. She worked as a senior leader and head teacher in several schools. She has also worked to support teachers across schools in Hertfordshire as an Advanced Skills Teacher and a Continued Professional Development Lead.
Clare holds a doctorate in education from The University of Cambridge. Her research focuses upon school improvement, in particular developing professional capital through the Lesson Study cycle. She has supported many teachers to further their academic studies and has tutored on the HertsCam masters program.
Clare is passionate about inclusion and supporting children and their families to experience success. She prioritises this through her roles as Head of School at Heath Lane Nursery and Inclusion Leader for Roots Federation.
“I love working with young children because I find it very rewarding to support their learning and growth. Seeing their development and inspiring them with a love to learn sets them up to become independent learners in the future. I love being part of a warm and nurturing team at Heath Lane, in a learning environment which supports every individual child’s interests and next steps.”
Joanna Green
Teacher
Videlina Gelborova
Teacher
Jessica Carini
School Improvement Lead
Sam Shore
Early Years Practitioner
Natalie Auld
Early Years Practitioner
Jo Copeland
Early Years Practitioner
Marion French
Early Years Practitioner
Effie Sideri
Early Years Practitioner
Carrie-Ann McCarry
Early Years Practitioner
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Yulia Peat
Early Years Practitioner
Oneika Farquharson
Familiar Adult
Carolyn Deane
Office Manager
Sean Smith
Site Manager
Michelle Shearer
Admin Team Member
Tom French
After School Club Assistant
Hayley Yendell
Gemma Williamson
Executive Headteacher, Roots Federation
Gemma Williamson is an accomplished and dedicated leader in Early Years education. Before the federation of the three nursery schools, she served as the sole Headteacher of Muriel Green Nursery School in St Albans. Gemma brings a wealth of experience across the Early Years sector, having previously led the Foundation Stage at Laurence Haines Primary School in Watford. Her expertise was recognised by the Local Authority, who appointed her as a Leading Teacher—a role in which she supported schools across Hertfordshire to enhance the quality of their Early Years provision.
In 2017, Gemma became Headteacher of Muriel Green Nursery and, in the same year, achieved the National SENDCo Award (Special Educational Needs Co‑ordinator). In January 2021, she began working with Oxhey Early Years in a consultancy capacity, supporting the Headteachers in post at the time. Her strategic vision later created the opportunity for Heath Lane Nursery School in Hemel Hempstead to form a collaborative partnership, strengthening leadership and provision across settings.
Gemma serves as a governor at two maintained primary schools in Hertfordshire, ensuring she remains connected to educational developments beyond the Early Years phase. She also contributes to several boards that advocate for the needs and sustainability of maintained nursery schools locally and nationally.
In recognition of her commitment to inclusive practice, Gemma was named SENDCo of the Year in 2024. She has also achieved the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL), a programme that strengthens leadership by shifting focus from day‑to‑day operational management to strategic, trust‑wide influence and impact.
Driven by a deeply held belief that children do not get a second chance at preparing for adulthood, Gemma ensures this principle sits at the heart of every decision, policy, and practice she leads. She has extensive consultancy experience both within and beyond Hertfordshire, supporting early years settings, maintained nursery schools, and primary schools to strengthen leadership, provision, and outcomes for children.
