Admissions Process & Tuition

The Little School runs on an academic calendar, so new students typically start in late August. If you are interested in joining our community, the first step is to submit an application online. Then, you can use your child’s application checklist to schedule your visit. Tours for families begin in late September.

Once you’ve applied and visited the Little School, your application is officially active. After our current families re-enroll (typically by March 1), we will be in touch with you about space for the upcoming year. If space is available, we let you know as soon as possible. If we don’t anticipate having a spot for your child, you’ll receive a waitlist letter and we’ll keep your file active as long as your child is a preschooler, in case space opens up. Families can always call or email to check in. The Little School runs on an academic calendar, so new students typically start in late August.

While space is often limited in the Infants and Toddlers & Two’s programs, there is typically more room in our mixed-age classrooms for three-, four- and five-year olds. We encourage you to apply in the fall rather than the spring or summer for the year ahead.

No, unfortunately, we do not offer financial aid to families in our Little School. Financial aid is available to Bryn Mawr families beginning in kindergarten.

The Little School is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Children aged 2 years and younger are offered Full-Year/Full-Day contracts, which includes Winter Break, Spring Break and Summer Break. Our 3–5-year-olds have the option of Full Year/Full Day or School Year/Full Day (with an option to add Winter Break, Spring Break and/or Summer Break as needed).

We provide a morning snack, a healthy lunch and afternoon snack. We strive to be a peanut- and nut-free environment. Our students eat family-style in the classroom. 

Infants, toddlers and two-year-olds spend their day in peer groups. Children aged 3-5 and enrolled in the nursery program are assigned to a mixed-age classroom with a team of four teachers. The children enjoy facilitated play, cooperative learning activities, and whole group gatherings as a group, then participate in various small groups and individualized experiences at age-appropriate level in the later part of the day. All of our nursery-aged children have language arts, math, art, science, dramatic play, music, yoga and plenty of outdoor play throughout the week. 

This arrangement provides an experience similar to that found at home and in the neighborhood where children of all ages play and learn together. Among the benefits we witness every day: 

• Older children develop a sense of responsibility and importance as they provide assistance to younger classmates. 
• Children refine their problem solving skills as they help others cope with familiar challenges. 
• Younger children look up to older classmates and are eager to imitate them. 
• Each child has opportunities to explore a variety of social roles. 
• With a wide range of experiences available in the classroom, children are able to learn at their own pace. 
• The talents and strengths of each individual are recognized and nurtured at every age.