Childcare Agency
Childcare Agency in Orlando's Dr. Phillips Community, From Infant Care to VPK
Parents looking for a childcare agency in Orlando from Dr. Phillips usually want three things: licensed care, a real curriculum, and hours that fit their work. Many Dr. Phillips parents work in the theme park and hotel corridor, so care must start early and end late. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips is open Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and has served Dr. Phillips families since 2013.
Licensed, Accredited, Gold Seal
What Childcare Looks Like in Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Community
Our care runs from infants at 6 weeks through toddlers, Florida VPK, before and after school care, and summer camp. One school can carry your child from a first bottle to elementary school. Families in ZIP 32819 often stay with a school for 2 to 5 years, so most check credentials closely before they sign. Here are ours: we hold Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, and our center is licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Childcare in Dr. Phillips starts with Florida licensing. Florida child care centers are licensed by DCF or, in some counties, by a designated local licensing agency. Gold Seal Quality Care is a DCF designation that a center can earn only after it is licensed and holds a recognized accreditation. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips meets that bar with two accreditations: A.P.P.L.E. (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment) and N.E.C.P.A. (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation).
Work hours shape care here. Dr. Phillips sits near Universal Orlando, International Drive, big hotels, and Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row. Many parents start before sunrise or finish after dinner. Our 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM weekday hours and flexible scheduling exist for those families.
- Infants from 6 weeks
- Open 6:30 AM
- Quality Gold Seal
- Serving since 2013
The families themselves set a high standard. ZIP 32819 has 27,826 residents in 14,590 housing units. Of those homes, 59% are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $86,306. Parents here tend to ask for names: the teacher’s name, the curriculum’s name, and the name of the group that accredited the school. We think that’s the right instinct.
Many families are also new to Florida. The Dr. Phillips and MetroWest area sees steady moves from the Northeast and the Midwest. Those parents often arrive with no friends to ask for a referral, so they lean on Gold Seal status, accreditation, and online reviews instead. Many have never heard of VPK, Florida’s free pre-K program, until they move here.
Weather matters too. Central Florida has no winter pause, so outdoor play runs all year. Summers bring afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane season runs June through November. A center needs real indoor space for those days. Ours includes a library, an art room, and “Playtown,” a dramatic play room.
From 6 Weeks Old
Infant Care for Dr. Phillips Parents Working Theme Park and Hotel Shifts
Our infant care program takes babies from 6 weeks old, with drop-off starting at 6:30 AM for parents heading to work in the Universal Orlando and International Drive corridor. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips sits 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios. We are the closest daycare to Universal Studios Orlando, which helps if that’s where you work.
Infants need the same faces each day. Our caregivers stay with the same age group all day, and we keep required ratios at all times. Parents name our infant teachers in their reviews again and again, because the same teachers stay in the infant room.
Those updates help you stay close to your child’s day and talk with your child’s teacher about developmental milestones as they arrive. Infants and toddlers also learn simple sign language with us.
Cooked On Site
Infant Feeding and Fresh Daily Meals for Dr. Phillips Babies and Toddlers
Infant feeding is part of daily care at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips. For children ready for meals, our on-site nutrition program provides fresh, balanced meals every day. Our own cook prepares breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack in our kitchen. Having meals and snacks included takes one more task off your family’s list.
Free Pre-K at Age 4
Florida VPK and Pre-K Care for 4-Year-Olds in Dr. Phillips
Florida VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is a state program that funds pre-K hours for eligible 4-year-olds. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips offers pre-kindergarten care. We are a Florida VPK provider. Our VPK program runs during the school year only. If you just moved here from another state, VPK may be new to you, and our front desk can walk you through the program.
Our Pre-K classroom uses named curricula. We teach reading and early literacy with the Abeka curriculum, and early math skills with Saxon Math. We build phonics, letter sounds, and number sense step by step.
Outside the classroom, children learn in our on-site specialty centers: the Art Studio, Science Lab, Library, and Computer Lab. Children take part in science, cooking, and social studies activities, all aimed at kindergarten readiness. The year ends with preschool graduation, and we also offer our Step Up Program.
Skills Before Kindergarten
Behavioral Support and Social-Emotional Learning Under Florida Gold Seal Standards
Social-emotional learning is part of the daily program at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips. We also provide behavioral support in child care. Toddlers and preschoolers practice sharing, taking turns, moving from one activity to the next, and calming down when upset. Those skills matter as much as letters before kindergarten.
When a child struggles, behavioral support starts with teachers and parents talking directly. Direct teacher messaging lets you and your child’s teacher stay on the same page the same day, and a pattern caught early is easier to work on together. Our N.E.C.P.A. accreditation backs this up: N.E.C.P.A. assesses how adults interact with children and how a school works with parents and the community.
Ms. Yliana Gomez
Director
Our staff meet or exceed Florida state credential requirements. Our Director, Ms. Yliana Gomez, brings 15+ years of childcare experience. She holds the National Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C. She also holds the Florida Director Credential and is a member of the Children’s Forum. Ms. Gomez has been with the school since it opened in 2013 and has been Director since 2015.
Check Before You Arrive
Child Care Enrollment for Families Relocating to Dr. Phillips and MetroWest
Child care enrollment from out of state is hard when you can’t tour every school first. Families moving to Dr. Phillips and MetroWest can check a Florida center’s record before they arrive. Here’s what to verify:
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips has also been voted Best of Orlando by Orlando Magazine for 10 years.
We handle preschool enrollment and child care enrollment by age group: infants, toddlers, 2s, 3s, VPK, and school age (5 to 12). All of our programs are full-day. Two Florida funding paths may help. Florida VPK covers pre-K hours for eligible 4-year-olds, and we accept School Readiness (formerly 4C) for eligible families.
Our front desk replies the same day, which helps when you’re still unpacking. Most families here plan to stay several years, so it’s worth reaching out early.
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DCF license
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Gold Seal Quality Care designation
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Accreditation (ours: A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A.)
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Memberships (ours: F.A.C.C.M. and N.C.C.A.)
Touch, Move, Copy
Toddler Care and Potty Training Support for Bay Hill and Williamsburg Families
Our toddler care program serves families in Bay Hill, Williamsburg, and the Turkey Lake area who need full-time care or flexible scheduling. Toddlers learn by touching, moving, and copying. Our toddler classes give them room to do all three:
- Storytime sessions
- Sensory play activities
- Creative play centers
- Outdoor play
Toddlers also start language learning. Infants and toddlers use simple sign language, and conversational Spanish begins at age 2. Early math skills like counting and sorting give them a first look at the preschool curriculum. Orlando’s warm climate allows outdoor play most of the year, and shaded playground equipment and safety surfacing help on hot days.
Palm Lake and Bay Meadows
Before and After School Care With Bus Service to Palm Lake and Bay Meadows Elementary
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips runs before and after school care with bus service to and from Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary, both Orange County Public Schools. If your child is zoned for either school, we handle the ride.
Before-school drop-off starts at 6:30 AM, which helps parents with early hotel or theme park shifts. Children wait with us, then ride to school. After school, the bus brings children back. Our after school care includes:
- Homework help
- Snacks
- Playground time and outdoor fitness
- Enrichment activities
Children are supervised from the moment they step off the bus. Pickup runs until 6:30 PM on weekdays, which fits many late hospitality shifts.
Safe pick up and drop off is part of every day. We use key fob check-in and coded door locks, and we require ID from any adult we don’t know. Parents stay informed through the app.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
Ages 5 to 11
Year-Round Summer Camp Built for Central Florida Heat and Storm Season
Our Summer My Way Summer Camp gives children ages 5 to 11 full-day coverage when Orange County schools let out. Your workday doesn’t take the summer off, and neither does camp.
Each week has a new state theme. Campers go on two field trips per week, including Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, with science and cooking activities in between. Because Central Florida summers are hot, every Monday is water day, and our water play area helps on the hottest weeks.
Also Included
Additional Childcare Services We Handle in Dr. Phillips
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School Readiness (formerly 4C) participation for eligible families
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Full-time child care and full-day preschool
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Flexible scheduling for shifting work weeks
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Step Up Program
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Transition to kindergarten and preschool graduation
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Preschool transportation
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Language learning classes
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Ballet dance and soccer
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Science, cooking, and social studies activities
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Storytime and creative play sessions
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Sensory play activities
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Family engagement events
Southwest Orlando
Where We Work Across Orlando’s Southwest Side
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips serves families across Orlando’s southwest side, with Dr. Phillips as our home base. Our home community’s oak-lined streets sit near Dr. Phillips Boulevard and the Dr. Phillips YMCA.
Bay Hill families nearby can use our full-time infant and toddler care with early drop-off. Williamsburg and Turkey Lake area families are nearby too, and Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a summer camp field trip stop.
Parents who work along the Sand Lake Road corridor, home to Restaurant Row and close to Universal Orlando, can use our flexible hours. We are 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios. MetroWest also draws many families moving to Orlando.
- Dr. Phillips
- Bay Hill
- Williamsburg
- Turkey Lake
- Sand Lake
- MetroWest
Schedule a tour, or contact our front desk to start enrollment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Childcare in Dr. Phillips
What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about VPK, School Readiness, licensing and hours.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.
(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.comA child must be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the program year, and live in Florida, to qualify for Florida VPK. At Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips, VPK runs during the school year only. Our front desk can help you check which year your child starts.
Florida VPK does not cover a full workday. The school-year VPK program covers 540 instructional hours. Families who need full days pair VPK with full-time care. Ask our front desk how the hours fit your schedule.
School Readiness is Florida’s child care funding program for eligible families, and in Orange County it was formerly run under the 4C name. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips accepts School Readiness. The local early learning coalition determines eligibility under Florida’s program rules.
Parents can check a Florida child care center’s license through the Florida DCF provider search, which also shows Gold Seal status. Gold Seal requires DCF licensure plus an approved accreditation. Ours are A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A.
The Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips after-school bus serves Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary, both Orange County Public Schools, and no other schools. Before-school drop-off starts at 6:30 AM.
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips is open weekdays from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with flexible scheduling for parents on theme park or hotel shifts. We are closed Saturday and Sunday. The school sits 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios.
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.
