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Overview
  • Programs
  • Our Team
  • Accreditation
  • Reviews

The History of Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children

Bala Cynwyd lies in the Welsh Tract of Pennsylvania and was settled in the 1680s by Welsh Quakers, who purchased the land from William Penn shortly after he landed in Pennsylvania. Our area was originally founded as two separate villages, named for the towns of Bala and Cynwyd in Wales.

In 1884, the Schuylkill Valley Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company was established and 3 train stations were built in our neighborhood. The construction of better roads and the rail service made residential development of the area possible and our stately brick buildings were initially constructed as residential homes in 1895. We were part of a wave of expansion that ran from 1880-1920 and among the first 500 buildings built in Bala Cynwyd.

Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children was founded in 1991. Our campus rests on 1.43 acres and we have 3 classroom buildings, 3 playgrounds, a rain day gym, a fully furnished kitchen, and an in-ground swimming pool that was designed specifically for young children. Our school loves being part of the Bala Cynwyd community.

Programs Offered:

Classroom Staff

sciencewithteacher2-300x200We have worked diligently to assemble a team of nurturing professionals. Our teachers and directors are certified early childhood educators who undergo extensive training prior to assuming their roles and our assistant teachers and aides are either studying for their credentials or have substantial experience with young children.

Every class at Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children has two full-time teachers. We also have two floating teachers that substitute or assist in all of the classrooms as needed.

Our faculty, curriculum, daily programs, and teacher/child ratios all meet or exceed the standards required for:

  • Licensing as a Private Academic School for Nursery and Kindergarten Education by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • Licensing by the Department of Human Services as a Child Care Center
  • Accreditation by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

Safety

All buildings are fully air-conditioned and have commercial sprinkler systems throughout. The fire and emergency alarm systems go directly to a central alarm station and the Township fire and police stations. All buildings are locked from the outside with a computer controlled, electronic lock system. Enrolled families are given access chips for their child’s building.

Parent Involvement

Children show the greatest gains when a strong partnership exists between their parents and their school. We want to work with you through these early years to facilitate every aspect of your child’s emotional, social, intellectual, and physical development.

We have an open-door policy at Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children. You are welcome to visit at any time and we encourage you to participate in any and all of the activities. You can take part in existing activities like field trips, events, and parties or you can coordinate with the staff and do something on your own like read the class a story, teach a dance, or talk about your career, hobby, or passion.

Our Location

Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children is conveniently located at 11 Saint Asaphs Rd, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. You can reach us by calling (610) 668-2233. We offer programs for infants, toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten. Our school is at the nexus of City Line Ave and Route 23 and we’re close to both the I-75 and Route 30.

Our Team

Laura Fairtrace

Laura Fairtrace

School Director

I have had the privilege of working with the wonderful group of families, children, and staff at the Bala Cynwyd School for Young children since 2005. I began with the school as a lead teacher where I had the pleasure of assisting preschool children in their growth and development for close to ten years prior to taking on an educational leadership role as an assistant director in 2015, and a director role in 2021. Prior to my time with the Bala Cynwyd School, I attended the Pennsylvania State University where I received a degree in Human Development and Family studies. I was fascinated with the science behind child development and how environments and relationships can play an important part in children’s success. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends as well as seeing live music, art, reading, travel, cooking, & (just a little) gardening. As Director of the school my goal is to truly uphold our company’s promise to give our families peace of mind by providing our children with an exceptional education in a place as nurturing as home.

Ashley Przbylski

Ashley Przbylski

Assistant Director

I have been with The Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children since 2016. I started as a Senior Toddler lead teacher for 6 years and joined the administration team in 2022. I have a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Psychology from Penn State University. In my free time I enjoy going for long runs, reading, adventuring outdoors and spending time with my family, friends and my cat! What I love about early childhood education is watching the rapid growth of each child and witnessing their own personalities develop and evolve. Making those long-lasting connections with both families and children fills me with so much joy. Children have the capability and energy to bring out the best in others and I am lucky enough to experience that daily. Watching these teachers give their all and dedication to educating children is extremely inspiring.

Joan Scavello

Joan Scavello

Child Family Coordinator

I have been with the Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children since January 1991. During that time, I have worked with age groups ranging from two to five years old. I graduated from Chestnut Hill College with a master’s degree in counseling psychology. In my current position, I advocate for families seeking support and services for their children as they experience developmental changes and challenges. In my time away from school, I enjoy biking, reading, and traveling to visit my family or spend time at the beach.

Ms. Kyong

Ms. Kyong

Teacher of the Year

I have been with the Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children since 1991 where I have taught Kindergarten since 1995. I was born in South Korea and moved to America when I was twenty years old. I attended Temple University where I received a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum Instruction and Technology Education. I am the principal of the Emmanuel Korean School of Philadelphia which is an educational institution dedicated to teaching Korean language and heritage to the students in the Philadelphia area. I am married and the mother of both a son and a daughter. In my free time I enjoy doing arts and crafts.

Accreditations

NAEYC Accreditation

Every child deserves access to high-quality early learning experiences. NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) has set 10 standards for early childhood programs that can help families make the right choice when they are looking for a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten. The standards and criteria are also the foundation of the NAEYC Accreditation system for early childhood programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, schools must go through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to verify and ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years. In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition.

Reviews from Parents

4.9 Rating based on 43 Reviews Leave A Review
Rahmadi Trimananda • Google
Ms. Laura and her team at Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children are wonderful. My son was there for only 5 months after moving from CA to PA (we found the school and enrolled online seamlessly!), and in such a short time, he made so much progress in his cognitive abilities (he wasn't reading/writing and now he is reading and writing a lot) while learning from his teachers at the Pre-K level. Shout out to Teachers Becca (Spring), Kyong and Kelly (Summer) for all their help and care for him, along with the supporting teachers. If you want your children in good hands, this is the place where you want them to be in.
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Matthew Nelson • Google
Amazing school. Great lesson plans, communication, and staff. The young kids are doing new activites every day. Couldn't be happier. Already have a 2 year old there and plan to send our (almost) 1 year old as well, when he is older.
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Carina Huang • Google
This school is amazing!!! First, I really want thank all my kids teachers again. Thank you Teacher Lauren, Teacher Mary both of you brought so many good memories to Audrey and make she feel so comfortable with new environment and had a very nice smooth transition from other school to here and to get used to love the routine of Monkey class. Then, I want say thank you to Teacher Peggie and Teacher Kelly, thank you for giving Audrey a fabulous birthday day activities to make the day special and remarkable to her. All the stuffs you brought to her just bright her day. Thank both of you offer so many helps to our little one and help her build more of her academic skill and social skill. So many thanks to those wonderful teachers and school. We feel so lucky to join Bala Cynwyd school for young children family.
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Eileen Bossone • Google
I am so thankful to the BCSYC staff for all of their outstanding work over the three years my son attended. We were very happy at BCSYC, and I am grateful for all of the wonderful experiences my son had. There is no doubt that a great deal of thought, time, and care goes into making BCSYC such a special place, particularly with the numerous challenges during COVID. My son’s teachers were extremely dedicated to their profession and provided a creative as well as structured learning environment. I cannot thank you all enough for providing such a top quality experience!
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Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children

Bala Cynwyd, PA

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School: Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children

Preparing Your Child To THRIVE

Your child is unique, and we are happy to provide an educational, fun, and nurturing environment where each child can develop and thrive in order to build a bright future with unlimited possibilities.