Give your child a strong, joyful start at TYL II Preschool & Childcare. Our quality preschool program helps children ages 3-5 build the academic, social, emotional, and physical skills they need for kindergarten - while learning through play, exploration, creativity, and meaningful relationships.
Eligible families may receive the instructional preschool day at no cost through PHLpreK or Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. Funded seats are limited, and before or after care is available for an additional fee.
Come see our West Philadelphia classrooms and outdoor spaces in action. Tours are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and our team follows up within 24-48 hours.
Preschool Program at a Glance
Ages:
3-5 years old.
Instructional day:
Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Before Care:
7:00 AM-9:00 AM for an additional fee.
After Care:
3:00 PM-5:00 PM for an additional fee.
Teacher-to-child ratio: 1:10.
Why Families Choose TYL II for Preschool
TYL II has served West Philadelphia families near the University of Pennsylvania since 1994. As a Keystone STAR 4 early learning program, we provide an inclusive, nurturing environment where children are known, encouraged, and challenged to grow.
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Decades of experience supporting children and families in West Philadelphia.
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A 15,000-square-foot learning center with organized classroom areas for reading, writing, art, math, science, sensory play, and dramatic play.
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One of Philadelphia's largest private preschool playgrounds for movement, exploration, friendship-building, and outdoor learning.
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Certified, caring teachers and a 1:10 ratio that supports individualized attention.
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A diverse, secular school community where families from different backgrounds are welcomed and valued.
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A welcoming classroom for multilingual children and English-language learners.
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Early childhood partnerships with Penn Futures and UPenn Nursing.
Explore the TYL II facility to see our classrooms, playground, and outdoor reading nook.
A Curriculum Designed for Kindergarten Success
Our preschool curriculum is aligned with the Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood. Teachers plan developmentally appropriate experiences that help children build skills across the whole day, then adapt instruction based on observation, relationships, and each child's needs.
Children learn through active, hands-on experiences rather than worksheets alone. A block structure can become an early engineering challenge. A read-aloud can lead to new vocabulary, dramatic play, drawing, and early writing. Outdoor play can build coordination, problem-solving, and cooperation at the same time.
Learning Through Purposeful Play
Play is how young children test ideas, practice language, work through problems, and make sense of the world. Our classrooms give children daily opportunities to:
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Build with blocks, manipulatives, and early STEM materials.
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Explore science experiments, nature, and sensory activities.
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Create with paint, clay, drawing tools, collage materials, music, and movement.
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Develop stories and social skills through dress-up, kitchen play, and other dramatic-play experiences.
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Practice literacy through books, songs, rhymes, phonics, conversation, storytelling, and early writing.
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Strengthen math thinking by counting, sorting, comparing, measuring, recognizing shapes, and finding patterns.
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Move, climb, run, and play outdoors while building healthy habits and gross motor skills.
Language, Literacy & Communication
Strong readers begin as strong listeners, speakers, and storytellers. Children build vocabulary, phonological awareness, early reading, and writing skills through interactive read-alouds, phonics experiences, classroom conversations, songs, poetry, dramatic play, and meaningful opportunities to express their ideas.
Math, Science & Technology
Math and science become meaningful when children can touch, test, build, count, sort, measure, and revise. Preschoolers explore number recognition, quantity, geometry, patterns, classification, measurement, scientific observation, early engineering, problem-solving, and age-appropriate educational technology that supports - rather than replaces - hands-on learning.
Creative Arts, Music & World Exploration
Children express ideas through painting, drawing, sculpting, music, singing, dance, movement, and imaginative performance. They also explore geography, nature, community helpers, cultural traditions, and seasonal changes. Exposure to Spanish, American Sign Language, and French vocabulary introduces new ways to communicate and appreciate different cultures.
Independence, Confidence & Relationships
Kindergarten readiness is about more than letters and numbers. Children practice caring for their classroom, following routines, making responsible choices, solving age-appropriate problems, working with classmates, dressing and managing personal needs, concentrating, and staying with a challenge. These daily experiences build confidence, perseverance, empathy, and responsibility.
Supporting Multilingual & English-Language Learners
TYL II welcomes children from many cultures and language backgrounds, including children who are still learning English. Teachers support language development throughout the day through conversations, stories, songs, visual cues, hands-on learning, peer interaction, and consistent routines. Children are encouraged to participate, build friendships, and grow in confidence as their English skills develop. We also value each child’s home language, culture, and family background.
Free Pre-K Funding for Eligible Families
TYL II participates in PHLpreK and Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, which can provide the 9:00 AM-3:00 PM instructional day at no cost for an eligible funded seat. PHLpreK is based on a child's age and Philadelphia residency and has no income requirement. Pre-K Counts uses age, income, and other eligibility factors.
Read our free Pre-K eligibility and application guide for the current age cutoff, documents, and application steps. Our team can also help you understand which questions to ask about funding and wraparound care.
