Fishtown has changed faster than almost any neighborhood in Philadelphia. Young families moved in, put down roots, and started asking a harder question than where to brunch. They want to know where to trust their children.

ENLA Learning was built for exactly those families. Here is what draws them in, and why they stay.

A program, not a holding room

There is a real difference between a place that keeps children safe and a place that helps them grow. We are educators, not babysitters. Our days are built on a Montessori-inspired rhythm: long, uninterrupted work cycles, hands-on materials, and teachers who watch closely and step in at the right moment instead of running children through a worksheet.

If you are weighing approaches, our guide to Montessori versus traditional daycare lays out the difference in plain terms.

Ratios that let teachers teach

Pennsylvania allows 1:4 for infants and 1:10 for older preschoolers. We hold tighter: 1:3 for infants, 1:4 for toddlers, and 1:8 for preschool. Fewer children per teacher is not a luxury. It is the single biggest factor in whether your child is truly seen during the day.

One block from the train, built for the neighborhood

Our new center sits at 1942 N Front Street, one block from the Berks station on the Market-Frankford line. The space is more than 3,000 square feet, designed from the ground up for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Families come to us from Fishtown, Northern Liberties, Kensington, Old City, and Center City East because the location actually fits how they live and commute.

Hours that match real work weeks

We are open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Families choose 8 to 4, 8 to 6, or full 6 to 6 days, with part-time options of two or three days a week. The center is nut-free, serves two snacks a day, and has parents pack meals so you decide what your child eats.

A team that protects the culture

Calm is leadership. That phrase shapes how our educators speak to children, how they handle a hard drop-off, and how they treat each other. Team over ego. A steady, low-turnover team is what lets a young child build the trust that real learning depends on.

Built on more than a decade of experience

ENLA Learning has served Philadelphia families since 2012. The Fishtown center is new, opening July 6, 2026, but the approach behind it is not. We are now enrolling infants and toddlers for the 2026 and 2027 year, with a 2026 enrollment savings of 550 dollars.

The best way to understand a center is to stand inside it. Book a private tour, see the Front Street space, and meet the team. For more on the neighborhood, read our complete guide to daycare in Fishtown.