Pre-Kindergarten Care
Pre-Kindergarten Care in Orlando: Get Your Child Kindergarten-Ready in Dr. Phillips
If you're exploring child care enrollment in Orlando, the year before kindergarten is a good time to focus on your child's next step. Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips provides pre-kindergarten care in Orlando. Our pre-K options include VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) and full-day pre-K. Both focus on kindergarten readiness.
We're a Gold Seal day care center. Each day pairs care with named curricula: Abeka for early reading and Saxon Math for numbers. That means you can see what your child is learning, not just hear that the class "had a good day."
We're open Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The best way to judge any pre-K is to stand in the room, so book a tour to see our Pre-K Classroom for yourself.
- Age 4
- VPK Cost Free
- Opens 6:30 AM
- Closes 6:30 PM
Florida-Only Program
Florida VPK Gives Orlando 4-Year-Olds a Free Pre-K School Year
Florida VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is free pre-K for eligible 4-year-olds. Many families who move to Orlando have never heard of it, because VPK is a Florida-only program.
We meet a lot of these families. Many move from the Northeast or the Midwest and settle in Dr. Phillips or MetroWest. If your child turns 4 soon, ask us about VPK now.
At Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, VPK runs during the school year only. That's the tradeoff to plan for. VPK hours cover only part of a working parent's day, and they don't cover summer. To fill the gap, you can add full-time child care around VPK, so your child stays in one building, with one set of teachers, from drop-off to pickup.
We also offer School Readiness (formerly 4C), Florida's child care assistance program for families who qualify. If you're not sure which program fits, ask us at your tour and we'll walk you through both.
Named Curricula
Abeka and Saxon Math Build Reading and Math Skills in Our Pre-K Classroom
Our Pre-K Classroom uses two named curricula, Abeka and Saxon Math, so Orlando parents can see a real plan behind each day. Play still matters at this age. But play works best when it sits next to clear lessons.
The Abeka curriculum teaches letter sounds and early reading. Phonics (matching letters to the sounds they make) is the first step toward reading words on a page. Saxon Math builds counting and early math skills one step at a time, so new ideas rest on ones your child already knows.
Knowing the curriculum also helps you at home. When you know the lesson, you can practice the same letter sound at dinner or count stairs on the way out.
Kids rotate through our learning centers: the Art Studio, Science Lab, Library, and Computer Lab. Storytime, cooking, science, and social studies activities add variety through the week.
Weather shapes our day. Central Florida summers bring frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and when a storm rolls in, play moves indoors to the library and art room so learning keeps going. On sunny days, kids head out to our shaded playground, which has safety surfacing under the equipment.
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Art Studio
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Science Lab
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Library
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Computer Lab
Gold Seal Plus Two
Gold Seal Status and Two Accreditations Stand Behind Our Orlando Pre-K
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, awarded by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Gold Seal requires DCF licensure first, so it also tells you we're licensed by the state.
If you moved here without a local referral network, credentials are a good place to start. Beyond Gold Seal, our pre-K has:
- A.P.P.L.E. accreditation (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment).
- N.E.C.P.A. accreditation (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation). N.E.C.P.A. reviews how adults interact with children and how a school works with parents. Our N.E.C.P.A. accreditation is valid through April 30, 2027.
- Staff credentials. All teachers meet or exceed Florida state credential requirements. All staff are CPR and First Aid certified.
Ms. Yliana Gomez
Director
Our director, Ms. Yliana Gomez, brings more than 15 years of childcare experience. She has been with the school since it opened in 2013 and has served as director since 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.
When you visit any school, ask to see current accreditation dates. Paperwork can lapse, and a good school will show you.
Built for Shift Work
Pre-K Hours From 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM Fit Orlando Work Shifts
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips opens at 6:30 AM and closes at 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Those hours matter to parents who work at theme parks, hotels, and restaurants in Orlando's tourism corridor.
We're 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios, which makes us the closest day care to Universal Studios Orlando. For many parents, that means a short drive between drop-off and the start of a shift.
Hospitality hours can change week to week. If yours don't stay the same, ask us how our flexible scheduling would work for your family.
A long day needs good food. Through our on-site nutrition program, our own cook makes breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack right here every day.
Through Graduation
Live Updates and Kindergarten Transition Keep You Close to Your Child's Growth
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips gives busy Orlando parents ways to see the pre-K day, not just hear about it later. You get live camera access, real-time app updates, and direct messaging with teachers. We keep an open-door policy, too, so you can visit anytime during our hours with no notice needed.
In our reviews, parents mention that the front desk answers their concerns the same day.
The pre-K year is a time for developmental milestones, the skills most children reach by a certain age. It's also a time for social-emotional learning, which means how your child shares, takes turns, and handles big feelings. If your child needs extra help with behavior, we offer behavioral support.
The pre-K year ends with transition-to-kindergarten support and a preschool graduation. Kindergarten readiness is more than reading. It also means following a routine, sitting for a lesson, and saying goodbye at the door without tears.
After graduation, care doesn't have to stop. Our before and after school bus serves Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary. If your child will attend one of those schools, they can stay at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips for before and after school care once kindergarten begins.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
Four Steps to Start
Enroll Your Child in Pre-K at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips
Families in Dr. Phillips, Bay Hill, Williamsburg, and the Turkey Lake area can enroll at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips. Here's how to start:
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Book a tour.
See the Pre-K Classroom and our learning centers in person.
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Ask about VPK.
Florida families get a VPK certificate through their local Early Learning Coalition, and we can explain how the certificate fits into enrollment.
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Pick your plan.
Choose VPK, full-day preschool, or a flexible schedule.
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Share your child's potty training stage.
We offer potty training support, so tell us where your child is today.
Many Orlando families plan for year-round care, so it helps to think past the pre-K school year. Once your child turns 5, our Summer My Way Summer Camp (ages 5 to 11) keeps routines going through the summer. Camp includes weekly state themes, Monday water days, and two field trips per week.
Parent Questions
FAQ
What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about VPK, full-day pre-K and our hours.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.
(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.comVPK is free for eligible 4-year-olds in Florida, including families in Orlando. At Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, VPK runs during the school year. Families get a VPK certificate through their local Early Learning Coalition. You can add full-time care to cover the rest of the workday.
Your child can stay for full-day pre-K beyond VPK hours at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips. Full-time child care and flexible scheduling cover weekdays from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Caregivers stay with the same age group all day, so your child keeps the same teachers.
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips accepts School Readiness (formerly 4C) for pre-K families. Ask the front desk about your eligibility during your tour, and we can explain how School Readiness works alongside VPK.
Parents can watch their child during the pre-K day through live camera access at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips. You also get real-time app updates and direct messaging with teachers. Our open-door policy lets you visit anytime during operating hours.
Children who are still potty training can ask about starting pre-K during a tour at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips. Potty training support is part of our care, and teachers work with families on it, so share your child's current stage with us.
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips is 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios Orlando. We're the closest day care to Universal Studios Orlando, and that short drive helps parents who work in the hospitality corridor.
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.
