Reviews of The Phebe Anna Thorne School Bryn Mawr College (College)

Kirstin Lindermayer

I can't say enough wonderful things about the Language Enrichment Preschool Program (LEPP) at Phebe Anna Thorne. My son began in this program in September, and his speech has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. The small student:teacher ratio means that my son receives the kind of individualized attention that he needs to communicate more effectively. All of the teachers in the program are incredibly skilled at working with young children and clearly love what they do. Because of the positive, nurturing environment at Phebe Anna Thorne, my son looks forward to going to school each day.

Kate Golden

Both of my children are attending the Phebe Anna Thorne School preschool programs. I was hoping to find a school that truly abides by a play-based curriculum. Not only does Thorne do this with skill, but its engagement with individual students and families is beyond what I could have hoped for. Staff knowledge of child development and sensitivity to each child's unique needs is paramount. My child started off as the oldest in the classroom, but after becoming more comfortable in the class, it seemed like it was no longer the right place developmentally and I talked with the director about it. The director, current teachers, the in-house educational consultant, and the teacher in the older class all got together to consider options. Multiple recommendations were offered but the decision was ultimately my husband's and mine. We moved her into an older classroom where she is now the youngest and its proven to be the right place for her. The exceptional quality of education provided at Thorne is demonstrated to me daily in the growth I see in my children.

Lauren Barton Kaufman

My son is in his second year at Phebe Anna Thorne School/Language Class, and I continue to be amazed by how much he has learned. The teachers are leaders in the early education field and are truly top notch. They have a 3:1 teacher to student ratio, and two of the teachers are speech language pathologists. The teachers work directly on strengthening social language and play skills as well as supporting expressive and receptive language abilities. We are so grateful to have found Phebe Anna Thorne School!

Lauren Ainsworth

Best teachers ever.

Julia Knaus

Our twins had been previously cared for at home before entering their "older" classroom for their preschool. The teachers are caring and my kids love going! The curriculum is well thought out and kids are engaged but given space to explore and grow. They encourage problem solving and collaborative play, and I have seen a lot of positive growth in my children since they started the program. I wish we had started earlier!

Sarah Bond

We are so pleased that we discovered the Phebe Anna Thorne School for my son. He has grown so much this year in his ability to connect with his peers and the teachers and staff have really impressed me with their unique coaching style to help the children communicate and cooperate. We are looking forward to continuing with the program through Kindergarten.

lucy faulconbridge

This school is a really special place. Both of my kids (one boy, one girl) went through this school for preschool and we could not have had a better experience. The Director, Amanda Ullrich, is really incredible. She is always at the school, highly responsive, and incredibly warm. We have learned through other school experiences that the Director of a school is extremely important and sets the tone for that school. Amanda and all the teaching staff are amazing. They are all highly experienced and truly understand child development, and they approach all of the children with gentleness and understanding. My two children were so happy for all of their years at Thorne and I learned so much about how to be a better parent from the teachers. I'm so sad our preschool days are over, but if there is one decision I know I got right as a parent I know that it was sending my kids to Thorne.

Dan Chinburg

The Phebe Anna Thorne School is a wonderful place for children to learn and explore through play. Our daughter has thrived in the Nearly Threes class and soared in her interests within a nurturing environment. We are really happy with her social development and her exploration of new activities. She beamed with pride when she showed us her class's New Year's book in which she and her friends shared their interests. We look forward to next year to see her skills continue to grow in the Younger Class.

Anna Diskin

My son started at Thorne this past year and we could not be happier with his experience there! Thorne is truly a special place. The teachers and director, Amanda, are so warm and kind and put the children above everything else. Everyone at the school has incredible experience which shows in the way they interact with and guide the children to learn through play. My son has grown a ton socially and emotionally this past year, and I think much of it is due to his Thorne experience. We feel so lucky to be a part of the Thorne community!

Jessie Thaler Jackson

My daughter started in the Nearly Threes class this fall and she couldn't be happier. She absolutely loves her teachers, classmates, and school. I had to keep her home sick one day, and she was begging to go (even though I tried to convince her it wasn't a school day). I have been so impressed with the school's thoughtful and developmentally appropriate approach; they are well-equipped to support a wide variety of personalities and needs. We feel so lucky to have found such a wonderful and nurturing program for my daughter's first school experience!

Kristin Hayman

What an amazing place. My daughter is thriving in kindergarten this year. The play-based curriculum is wonderful, teachers are fantastic, and it truly is a special place!