About Us
Planting Seeds for Lifelong Learning
Nestled in the heart of Chester County, London Grove Friends Kindergarten and Little Acorns Preschool embody the beauty and wonder of our landscape. For generations, children learned and played beneath the branches of our historic 350-year-old Penn Oak, painting its massive trunk and marveling at its quiet lessons of resilience and growth.
We are intentionally a Kindergarten and Preschool only, because we believe a child’s first school experience is a once-in-a-lifetime gift. With small classes, a nurturing community, and a nature-based philosophy woven into every subject—from reading to art—our program encourages curiosity, creativity, and respect for self, others, and the world around us.
At London Grove Friends, childhood is celebrated through story, song, play, and hands-on discovery, building a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Here, children grow with confidence, joy, and a deep appreciation for the world they live in.
Our History
The London Grove Friends Kindergarten is living testimony to the care of London Grove Friends Meeting and its many friends, particularly Frank and Helen Walton and their family, who have nurtured the school physically and spiritually. Yet it is to two others that Helen Walton bestowed these words of dedication:
"Our Kindergarten reflects Margaret W. Thomforde’s light as she devoted herself to the young lives around her. As a well-trained teacher, Margaret boldly established the London Grove Kindergarten complete with teacher, enrollment and a Friends philosophy."
Ruth W. Fales enthusiastically continued this creative project since 1960. She offered children her many talents, her sincerity, her understanding, and her special love of nature and its wonders. She, too, loved the children, and they responded.
Their spirit of wisdom, kindness, and care continues to guide us today. Since 1960, generations of children have been shaped by this legacy—carrying forward a love of learning, respect for nature, and the joy of discovery.
Meet The Team
Deni-lyn Lane
Director & Head Teacher
Deni-lyn started education at London Grove with Teacher Ruth Fales. After graduating from Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, she earned a Bachelor’s in Literature from Washington College and Master’s in Elementary Education from Wilmington College. She has taught Kindergarten and First Grade in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District for years. As a London Grove alum, Deni-lyn values the Kindergarten's philosophy and mission. Her classroom fosters a community of care, respect, and individual appreciation. She is thrilled to be a part of the school where her love for learning began, living in the Unionville area with her husband and two.
Michelle Wilde
Full Day Kindergarten Teacher