guides

Preschool and Childcare Guide

Preschools and Daycares in the Media Area

April 20, 2024

"While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about." - Angela Schwindt

Find the perfect fit for your child at one of the local preschools. We all want a great start for our children especially when it comes to their early childhood experience. 

To add your school's details please contact us via email JenA@macaronikid.com


Find the best Preschools and Childcare in...

Media  |  West Chester-Glen Mills  |  Chadds Ford  |  Southern Chester County |  Chester Springs





Advent Preschool + Childcare

Advent Preschool + Childcare, a ministry of Advent Lutheran Church, has been serving families in West Chester for nearly 50 years!. Advent Preschool  offers a full and half day program with extended care as well. We blend learning and play into a traditional preschool experience for children of all backgrounds and abilities.


Advent Preschool + Childcare Website
1601 Green Lane West Chester Pa 19382
Email: adventprek@yahoo.com
Phone: 610-436-0807

Media



Founded in 1876, Media-Providence Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for students in age two through grade eight located in downtown Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 

At Media-Providence Friends School, we awaken the passion and purpose of all individuals within a welcoming, diverse community led by Quaker values. We believe that a Friends education is preparation for the whole of life: the passionate development of intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social-emotional capacities. 

A close-knit learning community, MPFS offers students big views of the world ahead. Here, in small classes, under the caring tutelage of early childhood, elementary school and adolescent experts who are passionate about teaching, students from diverse backgrounds and faiths grow up together, immersed in an academic environment that speaks to all the aspects of their beings: intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual.

Every day, students at MPFS are engaged in the processes of learning and inquiry in contexts that honor the Quaker values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship, and Service. As they make connections between lessons and life, learn to recognize their Inner Light to act upon their convictions, and grow into change-making members of their community, they discover that learning itself is a lifetime pursuit.

Media-Providence Friends School welcomes its' inaugural class of 2-year-olds to join our preschool program for the 2022-23 school year. Our early childhood program is now full for the 2022-23 school year! That includes all preschool classes, ages 2-4, and kindergarten. If you are interested in these classes for your child, we encourage you to submit an inquiry to join our waitlist. Space is still available for all other grades 1 - 8. 

We encourage all interested families to RSVP to our next Virtual Open House at mpfs.org/rsvp.


Media-Providence Friends School
125 West Third Street, Media, PA 19145
Email: adimaria@mpfs.org
Phone: 610-565-1960
Website: mpfs.org

West Chester-Glen Mills



Goshen Friends School

The program at Goshen Friends, an independent Quaker school founded in 1959, is based on the philosophy that children learn best through dynamic play. Throughout the school year, students are engaged in a variety of activities that are designed to help them grow socially, emotionally, creatively, and academically. Goshen’s experienced teachers honor each child’s individual spirit, helping them to grow independently while teaching them the value of friendship and teamwork. 

Year-round, students learn and play both inside and outside. A robust holistic and experiential curriculum in all classrooms includes thematic, play-based lessons that nurture pre-reading, pre-writing, pre-math, and pre-science skills. All students enjoy “specials” classes in art, music, and Spanish, as well as an outdoor education class that takes advantage of the school’s 10-acre campus with nature-based activities like story walks, treasure hunts, gardening and yoga. The curriculum engages the youngest students in preschool through the oldest students in pre-kindergarten with opportunities for hands-on learning that spark children’s natural curiosity and desire to learn.


814 N. Chester Road, West Chester PA 19380
Email: mimi.ackers@goshenfriends.org
Website:  goshenfriends.org
Phone: 610.696.8183





YMCA of Greater Brandywine
The YMCA is the largest provider of licensed childcare in Chester County. Led by degreed teachers, children flourish in warm, supportive environments, as they develop the essential skills needed for success in school and life. We offer many childcare and early learning programs for children six weeks old to six years old. Our programs provide children with hands-on learning experiences through a comprehensive, research-based curriculum known as Creative Curriculum, which focuses on exploration and discovery as a way of learning. In addition, our programs participate in the Keystone STARS program, which promotes high-quality standards in early learning and school-aged programs.


605 Airport Road, West Chester PA 19380
Email: info@ymcagbw.org
Website: https://ymcagbw.org/preschool-childcare-ymca-greater-brandywine
Phone: 610-696-9622





Calvary Lutheran Preschool
Calvary Lutheran Preschool has been educating the Preschool child since 1971. At Calvary, teachers provide a warm and nurturing classroom environment where students can learn and grow through hands-on, developmentally appropriate, and interactive experiences. Programs offered from students ages 2-5 years old, with various schedule options available. 


730 South New Street, West Chester, PA 19382
Email: calvarypreschoolwc@gmail.com
Website: clcwc.org/preschool
Phone: (610) 696-3427





Diane Matthews School of Dance Art - Preschool Dance Programs
The Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts is excited to introduce dance to your young ones in a caring and friendly atmosphere. Our Pre-elementary program serves kids ages 3.5-6 with options ranging from Predance and Ballet/Jazz to Acro-dance, Hippity Hop and more! As we move into our 41st year of dance in our family-run studio, we can't wait to share with you!


315 Westtown Road, Unit 9
Phone: 610-692-3398
Email: studio@dianematthewsdance.com
Website:http://www.dianematthewsdance.com/





Grove Preschool
We have a proud history of helping each child make a smooth transition from home to school with our gentle and nurturing approach. Our purpose is to provide developmentally appropriate experiences in a Christian environment which will enable each child to achieve his/her full potential as an individual and in relationship with God and others. Enrollment is open to all, without regard to race or religion.


490 W Boot Rd West Chester, PA 19380
Email: preschool@grovechurch.org
Website: grovechurch.org/preschool
Phone: 610-696-8107





MUMS Christian Preschool

MUMs is a ministry of Marshallton United Methodist Church offering faith based early education for children ages 3-5 years old. Teachers are committed to model Christian values, teach with enthusiasm and encourage positive social interaction while preparing children for academic success.

MUMs Christian Preschool offers classes for 3 year olds & 4/5 years
Extended day option: 4/5 year olds / PreK 9:00-2:00 every Tue & Thu
Lunch Bunch is also offered Wednesday

Fenced playground, family events, seasonal celebrations, and off-site field trips round out the curriculum.


1282 W. Strasburg Road, West Chester, PA 19382
Email: mumspreschool@gmail.com
Website:  marshalltonchurch.org
Phone: 610.696.5247





Saint Agnes School
For 150 years, St. Agnes School has provided academic excellence and Catholic values for our students ranging in age from Preschool to Grade Eight.  Faith, Academics, Service and Fun are at the center of all that we do at St. Agnes School!


211 W. Gay Street; West Chester, PA 19382
Email: jnevins@saintagnesschoolwc.org
Website: saintagnesschoolwc.org
Phone: 610-696-1260


  






Saints Peter and Paul
Preschool and Pre Kindergarten for 3,4,and 5-year-olds. These programs within our elementary school offer age-appropriate academic environments in a nurturing, structured setting. 


1327 Boot Road West Chester 19380
Email: advancement@sspeterandpaulrc.org
Website: https://school.sspeterandpaulrc.org/
Phone: 610-696-1000 ext 262






The Friends Play School at West Chester Friends
415 N. High Street West Chester PA 19380
Email: info@wcfriends.org
Website: wcfriends.org/the-friends-play-school/
Phone: 610-696-2962





West Chester Playschool
West Chester Playschool, Inc., is a non-profit preschool, operated and administered by parents. We are a co-op model and involve both licensed teachers and families/parents in the education of your child. At the heart of our program is PLAY- all of our children learn through play-based learning.


725 W Miner St, West Chester PA 19382
Email: director@westchesterplayschool.org
Website: westchesterplayschool.org/
Phone: 610-692-6538

Chadds Ford



Fairville Friends School

Fairville Friends embraces the Quaker vision of education: kindness, wisdom, caring, humility, trust, respect for all, and a deep concern for the whole child. We offer a variety of half- and full-day preschool programs on 2, 3 and 5 day schedules, September through June.

Preschool class sizes are small with six to ten children in each classroom and an average teacher-child ratio of 1:6. The full-day Kindergarten program has no more than 16 students with 2 teachers, allowing for small group and individual curriculum instruction. Healthy vegetarian snacks and lunch are included and prepared in our own kitchen, with great care given to food allergies.

Children at Fairville spend part of every school day engaged in unstructured outdoor play, using their creativity, imagination and initiative to explore the play areas. Teachers also plan purposeful outdoor activities designed to support physical growth and development, encourage scientific discovery and promote stewardship of the earth. Fairville also offers Preschool Playtime sessions for caregivers and children 18–36months, Enrichment Programs for enrolled students, and seven weeks of half-day Summer Camps open to all.


216 Pond View, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Phone: 610-388-1268
Email: info@fairvillefriends.org
Website: www.fairvillefriends.org


Southern Chester County



YMCA of Greater Brandywine - Kennett Square
The YMCA is the largest provider of licensed childcare in Chester County. Led by degreed teachers, children flourish in warm, supportive environments, as they develop the essential skills needed for success in school and life. We offer many childcare and early learning programs for children six weeks old to six years old. Our programs provide children with hands-on learning experiences through a comprehensive, research-based curriculum known as Creative Curriculum, which focuses on exploration and discovery as a way of learning. In addition, our programs participate in the Keystone STARS program, which promotes high-quality standards in early learning and school-aged programs.


Kennett Square YMCA
Email: info@ymcagbw.org
Website: https://ymcagbw.org/preschool-childcare-ymca-greater-brandywine
Phone: 610-696-9622

Chester Springs