Play & Learn

Learning through play since 1981.

215.643.4142
children learning, reading, working together
OUR DIFFERENCE

What Sets our Early Childhood Centers Apart

Play is the path young children take to learning. Children learn best when meaningful play is both challenging and fun! Play & Learn follows the “science of play” and specializes in creating intentional play environments to set children up for both learning success (IQ) and emotional development (EQ). Our classes are led by energetic, experienced teachers who are committed to helping children develop enthusiasm for learning while having fun! We combine meaningful play with a dynamic and developmentally appropriate learning environment to expand the cognitive, social, emotional, language and motor abilities of children. We believe in the competency of our children to use play to develop their own unique perceptions and ideas about the world. We educate and care for children from 6 weeks to school-age, but we know that when you learn through play, you learn for life!

The Granny Scholarship Fund

The Granny Scholarship Fund was established in 1988 in memory of Anna Schatz, mother to Play & Learn co-founders Judy Cooper (Executive Director Emeritus) and Gerald Schatz. Anna provided a constant source of love and support for everyone. In her honor, the Granny Scholarship Fund was created to provide tuition assistance to Play & Learn families facing financial difficulty and Play & Learn families on the CCIS waitlist. To date, the Granny
Scholarship Fund has given over $3 million in financial assistance to support thousands of families maintain continuity in their child’s early education.

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mission vision core values
mission vision core values
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“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning, but for children, play is serious learning.
Play is the work of early childhood.”

- Mr. Rogers

With multiple locations, Play & Learn is the largest non-profit childcare and early education organization in Montgomery County, serving over 1500 families with children from six weeks to school-age. We’ve helped thousands of children learn and grow through meaningful play since opening our doors in 1981.

As part of our childcare network, Play & Learn provides management services and expertise to other non-profit childcare organizations, including Montessori Children’s House and Jenkintown Day Nursery. Jefferson Health also counts on Play & Learn to provide childcare for their employees.

Play & Learn is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and select locations are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, equal opportunity organization, we are an outstanding steward of your tuition dollars by using our resources to continually enhance our early childhood education and serve our communities.

We adhere to the highest standards in child-directed education, safety and security, nutrition, and cleanliness as evidenced by our Keystone STARS participation and STAR 4 ratings.

Our Montgomery County preschool and certified preschool and Kindergarten programs are aligned with the curriculum of public K-12 school programs and are designed to prepare your child for the transition to a school environment.

Play & Learn makes it easy for families to stay in touch. Our open-door policy means families are always welcome to visit. For communicating with families, we use a multi-prong approach, including our Tadpoles communication app, emails, calls, postings on social media, conferences and face-to-face meetings.



Check Out the Latest from Play & Learn!

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Daylight Savings Time Begins on Sunday

Daylight Saving Time (DST) can present unique challenges for young children. Their internal clocks are still developing, making them particularly sensitive to changes in routine. Here’s a breakdown of the effects and some tips for managing them:   Tips for Helping Children Adjust: By taking these steps, you can help your young child navigate the…

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February’s Inservice Training Focused on Play

Play & Learn held a Professional Development Inservice Day on February 17, 2025 which brought 145 teachers and Directors together from 12 centers who collectively received 870 hours of training.  In keeping with our Core Values, “Elevate Play” was the theme for February’s Inservice Training which offered an array of session related to play including:…

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Click Here To Read 2023-2024 Annual Report

Our Program Administration Team

Kim Follett

Chief Executive Officer

Melanie Godhania

Chief Operating Officer

Susan Rostron

Community Engagement Coordinator

Jane Lee

Regional Program Director

Cara Medina

Enrollment Coordinator

Angie Phillips

Employment Director

Kathy Mosley

Business Development Director, Education

Kristi Bryson

Regional Program Director


Contact Administration:

admin@playandlearn.com

 

Our Accounting Team

Donna Weber

Chief Financial Officer

Celena Ballou

Accounts Payable

Kim Kraft

Controller

Jamie Irwin

Accounting Representative

Kathy Downing

Accounts Receivable, Manager

Virlene Parker

Accounts Representative

Ling Li

Payroll/Benefits Manager

Dara Kiska

Accounts Representative

 

Contact Accounting:

accounting@playandlearn.com

Visit Us

Want to see what sets us apart from other early learning centers? Schedule a tour of any of our locations to see our classrooms and playgrounds, meet the Center Director, and meet members of our highly qualified teaching staff. We’ll have all the answers you’re looking for.

Visit Us Today