Early Childhood & Pre-K
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel supported from the very beginning—and every family deserves access to the resources that can help make that possible. Finding child care, affording preschool, preparing for kindergarten, or wondering whether your child is meeting developmental milestones can bring a lot of questions, and families shouldn't have to navigate those systems alone.
At Montco 4 All, we believe strong communities are built when families have access to information, support, and opportunities regardless of income, background, or circumstance. This page brings together early learning programs, free and low-cost preschool options, Head Start and Pre-K Counts, developmental resources, child care assistance, and kindergarten readiness information for families throughout Montgomery County.
Early Learning Resource Center – Montgomery County
Find Child Care • Preschool Resources • Financial Assistance • Early Learning Programs
Pennsylvania's Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) help families navigate child care and early learning options. Montgomery County is served by ELRC Region 17.
The ELRC can help families:
Find child care and early learning programs
Receive personalized referrals based on their family's needs
Learn about Head Start and PA Pre-K Counts
Connect with Early Intervention and other early childhood resources
Apply for Child Care Works assistance to help pay for child care
Best for: Families who aren't sure where to start, need help finding child care or preschool, or want to know whether financial assistance may be available.
Pennsylvania Early Learning Program & Provider Search
Child Care • Head Start • Pre-K Counts • Early Intervention • Early Head Start
Pennsylvania's online early learning search allows families to look for programs based on their location and needs.
Free Pre-K • Ages 3–4 • Kindergarten Readiness
PA Pre-K Counts provides free, high-quality pre-kindergarten for eligible children beginning at age 3 through kindergarten entry.
Pre-K Counts classrooms focus on skills that help children prepare for school, including:
Early reading and language
Early math
Social and emotional development
Following routines and directions
Learning through play and exploration
Building relationships with other children
Preparing for the transition to kindergarten
Eligibility requirements apply and include household income and other factors that may place a child at risk of school difficulties.
Best for: Families with preschool-aged children who are looking for a free early education program.
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit – Pre-K Counts
Free Pre-K • Montgomery County • Early Learning
The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) operates PA Pre-K Counts classrooms for eligible families. Programs provide early childhood education designed to support children's academic, social, emotional, and developmental growth and prepare them for kindergarten.
Best for: Montgomery County families with children ages 3–4 who may qualify for free Pre-K Counts programming.
Free Preschool • Ages 3–5 • Family Support • School Readiness
Head Start is a federally funded early childhood program that provides free preschool and family support services to eligible families. Montgomery County's Head Start program is administered through the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit.
Head Start goes beyond traditional preschool education. Programs are designed to support the whole child and family and may include:
Early childhood education
Kindergarten preparation
Developmental screenings
Health and wellness support
Nutrition services
Social and emotional development
Family engagement
Connections to community resources
Support for children with disabilities
Best for: Montgomery County families with children ages 3–5 who meet Head Start eligibility requirements.
Maternity Care Coalition – Early Head Start
Pregnancy • Babies • Toddlers • Family Support
Maternity Care Coalition provides Early Head Start services in the Pottstown area for eligible families with infants and young children. Early Head Start serves pregnant people, infants, toddlers, and families with children under age 3 who meet program eligibility requirements. Programs support early child development, healthy parent-child relationships, family well-being, and preparation for future learning.
Child Care Assistance • Financial Support • Working Families
Child Care Works is Pennsylvania's subsidized child care program. It helps eligible families with the cost of child care so parents and caregivers can work, attend school, or participate in approved training. Depending on eligibility and household circumstances, the program may pay part or most of a family's child care costs. Families may be responsible for a copayment. Montgomery County's Early Learning Resource Center can help families understand eligibility, complete an application, and find participating child care providers.
Choosing a Quality Early Learning Program
Finding a program that works for your family isn't only about location and cost. Families can also consider the quality, safety, environment, and approach of an early learning program.
Check a Child Care Provider: Pennsylvania allows families to search regulated child care providers and review information such as certification status, inspection results, and verified complaint history.
Early Intervention: Birth to Age 3
Early Intervention provides services and supports for eligible infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.
Services are designed around the needs of the child and family and may include supports related to:
Communication and language
Movement and motor development
Learning and problem-solving
Social and emotional development
Everyday activities and independence
Hearing or vision
Other developmental needs
Montgomery County Early Intervention
Birth–Age 3 • Developmental Evaluation • Early Intervention
Montgomery County Early Intervention connects families of infants and toddlers with developmental evaluations and services when eligible.
Preschool Early Intervention: Ages 3–5
Children ages 3 through kindergarten entry who may have a developmental delay or disability can also receive Early Intervention services. In Montgomery County, preschool Early Intervention services are provided through the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU). Families do not have to wait until a child starts kindergarten to ask for help.
Getting Ready for Kindergarten!
Starting kindergarten is a big milestone for both children and the people who care for them. It can be exciting, emotional, and sometimes a little overwhelming, especially when families are surrounded by messages about everything a child is “supposed” to know before their first day.
At Montco 4 All, we believe every child comes to the classroom with their own strengths, experiences, culture, and way of learning. Kindergarten readiness is about so much more than knowing letters, numbers, or how to write a name. Children develop at different rates, and they don't need to know everything before they walk through the classroom door.
Everyday moments like reading together, playing, talking, asking questions, practicing routines, and simply spending time exploring the world, can all help children build the confidence and skills they'll carry with them into kindergarten and beyond!
Communication & Language
Encourage children to:
Talk about their day
Ask and answer questions
Listen to stories
Tell or retell simple stories
Learn new words
Express their wants, needs, and feelings
Early Reading & Writing
Try:
Reading together every day
Letting your child choose books
Talking about pictures and characters
Practicing recognizing their name
Drawing, coloring, scribbling, and beginning writing
Playing with letters and sounds
Early Math
Everyday activities can build math skills through:
Counting objects
Sorting by size, shape, or color
Recognizing patterns
Comparing more and less
Identifying basic shapes
Using numbers during cooking, shopping, and play
Starting Kindergarten in Montgomery County
Kindergarten enrollment is handled by your child's local public school district, and age requirements, registration timelines, required documents, and orientation programs may vary by district. Families should contact their local school district before the school year their child is expected to begin kindergarten. If you're unsure which public school district serves your address, Pennsylvania provides tools to help identify your school district.
Pennsylvania Department of Education:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education
Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning
Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning oversees programs and resources related to child care, early education, Early Intervention, Pre-K Counts, and other services for young children and families.
Early Learning & Child Care Resources:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/early-learning-child-care
Pennsylvania Department of Education – Preschool Programs
Learn more about Pennsylvania's publicly supported preschool programs, including PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start.
Social & Emotional Skills
School readiness also includes learning how to:
Take turns
Play alongside and with other children
Follow simple directions
Handle frustration with adult support
Ask for help
Express emotions
Adjust to routines and transitions
Independence & Everyday Skills
Children can practice:
Washing their hands
Using the bathroom independently when developmentally appropriate
Putting on a coat or backpack
Opening lunch containers
Cleaning up after activities
Following simple routines
Taking care of their belongings
Skills That Can Help Children Prepare for Kindergarten