VPK
VPK in Orlando: Free Pre-K for 4-Year-Olds at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips
Florida Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) offers free pre-K hours to eligible 4-year-olds. Looking for Ladybird Academy daycare in Orlando? Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips offers VPK during the school year. Our school holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care status. We’re open weekdays from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. If your child turns 4 this year, start by checking eligibility below, then book a tour and bring your Certificate of Eligibility.
Who Qualifies
Your Child Qualifies for Florida VPK at Age 4
Florida VPK is open to any child who lives in Florida and turns 4 on or before September 1. Families who move to Orlando from the Northeast or Midwest are often surprised by this. Free state pre-K may not exist where you lived before, or it may have worked differently.
Start by checking your child’s birthday against the September 1 cutoff. A child who turns 4 on or before that date can start VPK that fall. A child whose fourth birthday falls after September 1 would qualify the following school year.
VPK gives your child one school year of free pre-K hours in a program designed for 4-year-olds, along with a head start on the skills kindergarten teachers expect. Those hours don’t cover a full workday, so we explain how families fill the rest of the day further down this page.
Many families who settle in MetroWest and Dr. Phillips find VPK through a Google search, not through neighbors. If you’re new and don’t have a local parent network yet, that’s normal here.
- Age Turns 4
- Cutoff Sept 1
- Cost Free
- Runs School year
Facts You Can Check
Gold Seal and Dual Accreditation Back Our VPK Classroom
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care status, awarded by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). Gold Seal requires DCF licensing first, so our school is DCF licensed. If you’re comparing a short list of VPK providers in Orlando, these are the facts you can check:
- A.P.P.L.E. Accreditation (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment)
- N.E.C.P.A. Accreditation (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation), valid through April 30, 2027. N.E.C.P.A. looks at how adults interact with children and how the school works with parents and the community.
- Memberships in the Florida Association of Child Care Management (F.A.C.C.M.) and the National Child Care Association (N.C.C.A.)
Families without local referrals often rely on Gold Seal status and Google reviews to decide. Both are public, so you can check them before you call us.
Ms. Yliana Gomez
Director
Our Director, Ms. Yliana Gomez, brings more than 15 years of childcare experience. She has been with our school since it opened in 2013, first teaching VPK, then serving as Assistant Director, and becoming Director in 2015. Ms. Gomez holds the National Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., along with the Florida Director Credential, and she is a current member of the Children’s Forum. All of our teachers meet or exceed Florida state credential requirements.
Meet our leadership teamFour Steps, In Order
VPK Enrollment Steps for Bay Hill, Williamsburg, and Dr. Phillips Families
VPK enrollment in Orlando follows the same four steps for families in Bay Hill, Williamsburg, Sand Lake, and Dr. Phillips. The order matters, because your child needs a state certificate before a school can enroll your child in VPK.
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Apply on Florida’s Family Portal.
The portal asks for proof of your child’s age and your Florida address. Newcomers should have a current Florida address document ready before starting.
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Download your Certificate of Eligibility.
This document shows the state approved your child for VPK. Save a copy on your phone and print one.
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Tour Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips.
See the VPK classroom, meet the teachers, and ask about full-day care.
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Hand the certificate to our front desk.
Our team uses the certificate to enroll your child in our VPK program.
A family that just moved may still have bills going to an old address, which can make address proof harder to provide. Gather your Florida documents first to save time. Parents who have reviewed us say our front desk handles their questions the same day, so if a step is unclear, call or stop by and ask.
Finish your paperwork before fall classes begin, so your child starts VPK on the first day and gets the full school year.
Named Curricula
A VPK Day Built on Abeka, Saxon Math, and Hands-On Learning Centers
The VPK classroom at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips teaches from two named curricula: Abeka and Saxon Math. Some parents tour schools that only say “learning through play” and leave unsure what their child will actually learn. We think you should know the books behind the lessons.
Abeka builds phonics and early reading. Phonics means learning the sounds letters make, which helps your child sound out words. Saxon Math builds early math skills, such as counting and comparing numbers, through short lessons that come back to the same ideas over time.
Hands-on time happens in our learning centers:
- Art Studio for drawing, painting, and building
- Science Lab for simple experiments
- Library for storytime and picture books
- Computer Lab for early computer skills
A VPK day mixes structured lessons with active learning. Your child might hear a story, help with a cooking activity, then try a science project. Creative play centers let children practice sharing and taking turns, which are skills kindergarten teachers notice early.
Central Florida afternoons often bring thunderstorms. When the weather turns, play moves indoors to the library and the Art Studio. On dry days, children head to our shaded playground with safety surfacing.
The Whole Workday
Wraparound Care Covers the Hours VPK Does Not
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips offers full-day care around VPK hours, so your child can stay with us the whole workday. Many Dr. Phillips parents work in tourism and hospitality, with early starts and late finishes. Our school sits 2.6 miles, about 13 minutes, from Universal Studios, which makes us the closest day care to Universal Studios Orlando. Parents also commute to Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row and to hotels on International Drive.
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Weekday Hours
Our weekday hours run from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and we’re closed Saturday and Sunday. We also offer flexible scheduling for families whose work hours shift. Ask our front desk how wraparound care fits around your child’s VPK hours.
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Meals Cooked On Site
Your child eats breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack with us each day. Our own cook prepares the meals on site, so you don’t need to pack lunch.
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Summer My Way Camp
VPK at our school runs during the school year only. For the summer months, our Summer My Way summer camp serves kids ages 5 to 11. Campers explore a new state theme each week, cool off on Monday water days, and go on two field trips per week. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is one of those trips. If your child is still 4 when summer starts, ask us about summer care options for that age.
Progress You Can Follow
Kindergarten Readiness You Can See From Drop-Off to Graduation
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips gives parents three ways to follow their child’s progress during the VPK year. You don’t have to wait for a report to know how your child is doing. Live camera access lets you look into the classroom during the day, real-time app updates show you what your child did and learned, and direct teacher messaging lets you ask a question and hear back from the person who teaches your child.
Kindergarten readiness is built on developmental milestones, the skills most children reach around a certain age. In VPK, we focus on:
- Early literacy, such as letter sounds and first words
- Early math, such as counting and number sense
- Social-emotional learning, such as managing feelings and working with friends
Family engagement events bring families together throughout the year, and our open-door policy lets you visit any time during operating hours, with no notice needed. The year ends with preschool graduation, a day for your child to celebrate the work of the whole year.
After VPK, your child can stay with us. Our before and after school bus serves Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary, both Orange County Public Schools. Before-school drop-off starts at 6:30 AM. After school, children get homework help, snacks, and outdoor fitness.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about free VPK, eligibility and full-day care.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.
(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.comVPK hours at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips are free for eligible 4-year-olds during the school year. The state pays for VPK hours through your child’s Certificate of Eligibility. Those hours don’t cover a full workday, so ask our front desk about adding wraparound care for the rest of the day.
Your child can stay all day at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, because full-time care runs from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM on weekdays. We offer flexible scheduling for parents whose hours change. Your child gets breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack cooked on site.
The VPK program at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips runs during the school year only. In summer, our Summer My Way camp keeps kids ages 5 to 11 in a routine with weekly themes, Monday water days, and two field trips per week. If your child is still 4 in summer, ask us about care for that age.
Families who just moved to Orlando can enroll in VPK if they live in Florida and their child turns 4 on or before September 1. Start by applying on Florida’s Family Portal. Once approved, download your Certificate of Eligibility, then bring it to our front desk to enroll.
Children in our VPK classroom learn reading and phonics through Abeka and early math through Saxon Math. They also do science projects, art, cooking activities, and storytime. Teachers build social-emotional skills, like sharing and handling feelings, to support kindergarten readiness.
Parents can check on their child during the VPK day through live camera access, real-time app updates, and direct messages with the teacher. Our open-door policy also lets you visit any time during operating hours, with no notice needed.
Schedule a Tour
Come See Where Their Adventure Begins
Walk the classrooms, meet our team and bring every question on your list. You’ll know quickly whether Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips feels right for your family.
- See the classroom for your child’s age
- Meet the teachers and our director team
- Learn how check-in, cameras and daily updates work
Prefer to talk? Call (407) 412-6908
Thank you!
Your tour request is on its way. Our team will contact you soon to confirm a time. Need us sooner? Call (407) 412-6908.
