28/08/2026
We are delighted to have been nominated as a team for teacher of the year for the Pride Of Guernsey awards. It means a great deal to the team. If you would like to vote for us the link is below.
Hillside Nursery and Preschool has been nominated for the award for their important work as a team within early years education.
‘My daughter is surrounded by people who love and care for her, and it will have an impact on her for the rest of her life,’ said nominator Emily Tostevin. ‘I work in education and words like amazing and exceptional don’t even cut it.
‘We are so grateful that Hillside has given our daughter the best possible start to her education.’
She said that any worries have been met with importance, understanding and a welcoming nature.
The team at Hillside felt privileged to be recognized and appreciated for their work within childcare. ‘We are like a big family and this nomination just adds to the joy,’ said a member of staff.
The team integrates nature within their learning to help the children have a deeper understanding of the world, including having ducklings at the nursery.
‘We want children to witness nature happening in front of them.’
They had said that no two days are the same, and it was incredible to watch children develop in their care and reach their full potential.
Also you will also see Les Adams Farm has been nominated for Sustainability Hero of the year. Although someone else’s nomination for them was published we also sent in a nomination for them. Here is what we said about them. Johann and Isabelle have been wonderful to us so we would love it if you could vote for them.
I believe Les Adams farm so meets the criteria for this sustainability nomination. Their ethos and practice embrace the initiatives described in this category perfectly!
I run a nursery and pre-school and one of our main aims is to ensure a nature-based, outdoors childhood for our children. I live very close to Les Adams Farm and over the past few years, the property has been transformed into a very special place. Isabelle and Johann have managed to use most all of the land to grow vegetables, fruits, willow, and raise a number of animals, all using regenerative practices, working in harmony with nature, with organic and sustainable methods used throughout.
Having talked with Isabelle about how little children don’t have as many opportunities these days to get close to farm animals this kind lady immediately offered her support. Although we have hatched chicks in the past, we did so for only the last few days of the cycle, but Isabelle gave us an incubator and eggs so we could see the process through from start to finish. The staff and children at the nursery have been very involved and excited. They have watched little beaks break the eggs and then seen the chicks hatching. We kept the chicks at the nursery for several weeks. Johann and Isabelle were with us every step of the way, popping in whenever we had doubts or needed their expertise to get something sorted, not necessarily during working hours, as is the nature of hatching !
It was such a huge success that Isabelle persuaded us to hatch ducklings and as soon as the incubator was ready off we went again! We successfully hatched five little ducklings. They have stolen the hearts of children, parents and staff alike. The children have become so confident in handling both the chicks and ducks and have learned how to be gentle and care for living things.
The generosity of these people did not stop there! We have organised two visits to the farm for our leavers so they could see their chickens in their new environment. The children had a tour of the farm, learnt about willow and how it is used to make fishing baskets, they have looked at and harvested vegetables, such as picking raspberries from the plants. They have had wonderful encounters with the little donkeys and have hand fed chickens and ducks. We have also looked at the sheep and touched some wool before having a look at the compost being made at the farm. Not stopping there, Isabelle and Johann are about to open the farm to all of our little one’s parents too so our families can experience the magic together.
I know we are not alone in being on the receiving end of such generosity – Johann and Isabelle’s love of what they do is reaching out not just to us, but they open the farm so reception children from all schools can visit to learn about this sustainable way of farming, and they support the West show too, entering lots of classes (and then donating any winnings back to the show!) We probably won’t be the only people nominating this couple, and they have our thanks from all the staff for making this year so fantastic for all our children
We are keen to do it again next year!
https://www.prideofguernsey.gg/nominees/les-adams-farm/
https://www.prideofguernsey.gg/nominees/hillside-nursery-and-preschool/
