Meet our Team
Jackie van der Hoven
Co-Owner
Born in Empangeni, Jackie now lives in Johannesburg with her husband and three boys. Jackie’s passion for teaching was inspired by her experience at Linden Lodge (Wimbledon, London), where she worked during her Gap Year. Back in South Africa, Jackie studied a Bachelor of Education (Foundation Phase) at Embury Institute for Higher Education, whilst au pairing full time. Once qualified, Jackie taught at Delta Park School in Blairgowrie for 5 years in the Foundation Phase and was instrumental in the planning and implementation of their Grade R programme. Between 2015 and 2017, Jackie was a full time mum to her then two boys, who also attended Carrot and Cabbage. In 2017, Jackie joined the Nurturing Nannies team and has been an integral part of the organisation.
Jackie is passionate about children learning through a sensory integrative approach to play. She champions the importance of teaching the whole child and believes this ethos is integral to a child’s growth and development. Creating an environment in which children are happy whilst learning is why she became a teacher and would love to see this come to life at Little Buckingham.
Philippa Kohler
Co-Owner
Philippa is originally from Cape Town but is firmly based in Johannesburg with her family. Philippa is a mum of three and has run two successful organisations. She has a BA Degree in Psychology, Diploma in Fashion Design and is a qualified Montessori Teacher. Philippa has 8 years’ experience in heading up a Telecommunications and IT company before becoming a mum and starting Nurturing Nannies with Lindsay. Her passion for education, African Languages and Culture along with her creativity, aim to enrich the lives of all the individuals, no matter how big or small, in our greater communities. Her approach to enriching lives through inclusivity, play based education and making use of recyclable materials for activities, is a driving force in the success of Nurturing Nannies.
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Philippa's Operational Experience is enormously beneficial to the daily runnings of the school and implementation of new policies.
Lindsay Wooler
Co-Owner
With a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management (Kings University, London), Lindsay Wooler started her career in a Recruitment Firm in London, specializing in Training and Development. With a desire for a change in direction, Lindsay competed her PGCE (Foundation Phase) in London with Kingston University as part of the Wandsworth Scitt programme. Lindsay taught in London for several years before returning to Johannesburg to start her own family where she lives with her husband and three boys. Lindsay is passionate about creating a safe and secure learning environment, in which children can thrive. Lindsay believes that each child is unique and so is their learning journey. It is a privilege to be a part of it and if the only thing we do as foundation phase and early learning teachers is to instil a love for learning in the children, then it is our job done.
Lindsay and Philippa began Nurturing Nannies in 2014 when Lindsay’s first little boy was and Philippa’s second child were under one and there was a registered need for a learning environment that catered for both the little ones and nannies. We aimed to create something special, where women integral to the upbringing of these little ones, could come, make friends and learn not only how to stimulate and play with the little ones in their care but why the activities are