FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Tree of Life Nursery School blends the warmth of a traditional nursery school with a thoughtfully designed early learning program called the Rooted Learning Framework.

    Our approach combines strong early academics with purposeful play, helping children build confidence, curiosity, and independence while developing the foundational skills needed for Kindergarten.

    Children grow through three academic stages — Terrific Twos, Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Transitional Kindergarten — with each year intentionally building on the previous one to create a clear path toward Kindergarten readiness.

    Our curriculum is aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards and helps prepare students for the Ridley School District Kindergarten Assessment (K-POP).

    At Tree of Life Nursery School, children develop the skills, confidence, and love of learning they need to enter Kindergarten ready to learn and thrive.

  • Tree of Life Nursery School is licensed through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

    • Age 2 → Terrific Twos

    • Age 3 → Preschool

    • Age 4 → Pre-Kindergarten

    • Age 5 or Missed Sept. 1 Cutoff → Transitional Kindergarten

  • Children develop at different rates, and placement is based on age, readiness, and family goals.

    • Terrific Twos
      Designed for children who are 2 years old by September 1st.

    • Preschool
      Designed for children who are 3 years old by the second week of school.

    • Pre-Kindergarten
      Designed for children who are 4 years old by November 30th and are continuing to build foundational academic and social skills.

    • Transitional Kindergarten
      Designed for children who are already 5 years old, miss the September 1st kindergarten age cutoff (turn 5 by December 31th), or are kindergarten-eligible but would benefit from an additional year to strengthen academic skills, confidence, independence, and social-emotional readiness before entering kindergarten.

    Tree of Life Nursery School strictly enforces the age cut-off to ensure appropriate supervision ratios and a safe learning environment for all enrolled children. Our team works closely with families to help determine the program that best supports each child’s individual growth and success.

  • We require that all children enrolled in the Pre-Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten programs be fully potty trained prior to attending. This means children can use the bathroom independently and do not require diapers or pull-ups during the school day. We do not provide diapering or pull-up changes for these programs. Occasional accidents are expected and completely normal. If accidents become frequent, we’ll partner with families to determine next steps. If you’re unsure whether your child is ready, we’re happy to talk through readiness and timing together.

    Children enrolled in the Preschool program should be fully potty trained prior to attending but we understand that every child is different! For those not yet fully potty trained, it is expected that you are actively working toward that goal. Students must arrive at school wearingunderwear or pull-ups and easy to pull down and pull up clothes. This means no overalls, one-piece pajamas, bottoms with buttons and/or zippers. We will do our best to support your child and family on this journey.

    Children enrolled in the Terrific Twos program are not required to be potty trained.Students must arrive at school wearing pull-ups as teachers begin gently supporting the early stages of the potty-training process. Diapering and bathroom visits are scheduled throughout the morning and provided as needed. All diapering procedures are conducted in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) regulations.

  • Yes, pending availability. Many families choose to begin with Half-Day and transition to Full-Day once their child is comfortable with school routines.