Learning Center
Learning Center Orlando: Gold Seal Early Education in the Dr. Phillips Community
Many Orlando parents start work before sunrise along the Sand Lake Road and theme park corridor, so child care has to fit long, shifting days. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips has served Dr. Phillips families since 2013, and we’re open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Our school sits 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios, close to International Drive and Restaurant Row, where many two-career households work.
We teach and care for children from infancy through pre-K. We also accept School Readiness and offer before and after school care, enrichment, and summer camp. Our early learning center holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, plus A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. accreditation.
Licensed, Accredited, Gold Seal
How Early Learning Works for Dr. Phillips Families Near the Theme Park Corridor
Child care centers in Orange County are licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). Before you compare anything else, check that license. Gold Seal Quality Care is a DCF designation, and a center needs a license plus an approved accreditation to earn it. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips holds Gold Seal, along with A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. accreditation.
Florida also has two programs that many new parents have never heard of. VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is free for eligible 4-year-olds, and at our school it runs during the school year only. School Readiness (formerly 4C) helps eligible families pay for care.
About 59% of housing in ZIP 32819 is owner-occupied. Many families here are settled and plan to stay with one preschool for two to five years, so parents check credentials, ask for teachers by name, and want to see the curriculum before they sign. We think that’s the right way to choose.
- Serving families since 2013
- Doors open 6:30 AM
- To Universal Studios 2.6 miles
- Quality Gold Seal
Work hours shape the choice too. Hospitality, theme park, and office jobs near Sand Lake Road and the I-4 interchange often mean early starts and late finishes. Our weekday hours of 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM and flexible scheduling are built for those days.
Central Florida stays warm all year, afternoon thunderstorms are common, and hurricane season runs June through November. Our outdoor play includes shaded playground equipment and a water play area. On rainy days, children move to our library, our “Playtown” dramatic play room, and our art room.
Families moving from the Northeast and Midwest often have no local friends to ask for advice. If that’s you, Gold Seal status, Google reviews, and staff credentials are things you can check for yourself.
Ready for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Readiness Through Florida VPK and the Pre-K Classroom
Kindergarten readiness is an important step for your child. Florida VPK is free for eligible 4-year-olds. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips offers VPK during the school year only. If you just moved to Orlando, VPK may be new to you.
Our Pre-K classroom works on letters, numbers, daily routines, and following directions. We also support each child’s transition to kindergarten, and the year closes with a preschool graduation.
VPK covers a set block of instruction hours, not a full workday. That gap is the main tradeoff for working parents. Full-time care at our school wraps around the VPK hours, so your child can stay with us from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Help Paying for Care
School Readiness (Formerly 4C) Enrollment for Orange County Families
School Readiness is Florida’s program that helps eligible working families pay for early learning. Many long-time Orange County parents still call School Readiness by its old name, 4C.
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips accepts School Readiness. Eligibility is decided by the local early learning coalition, not by our center. Once you have approval, our staff can help you with child care enrollment.
Sign Language and Spanish
Language Learning Classes for Orlando’s Multilingual Families
Language learning classes are part of the regular enrichment schedule at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips. Many Dr. Phillips and MetroWest families moved here from other states and are still learning their way around.
Because the classes happen during the school day, you don’t need to find a separate program or make a second drop-off after work. Infants and toddlers learn sign language. Starting at age 2, children learn conversational Spanish.
Language practice also shows up in storytime sessions and library time. Children listen to stories, hear new words, and try them out loud, then use those words again in play.
Movement and Teamwork
Ballet and Soccer Enrichment Inside the Weekly Schedule
Ballet dance and soccer are both enrichment activities at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips, and both build movement and teamwork. For working parents near Sand Lake Road, these classes solve a real problem: you may not have time to drive to separate lessons after work.
Ballet dance teaches balance and rhythm. Children also learn to listen to a teacher’s cues and respond with their bodies.
Soccer gets children outside. They practice taking turns, passing, and running off energy on the playground. Orlando’s warm weather keeps outdoor soccer possible most months of the year. When an afternoon storm rolls in, we move activities indoors and pick up again when the weather clears.
From 6 Weeks Old
Infant and Toddler Care for Parents on Early Hospitality Shifts
Infant care at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips starts at 6 weeks old. Many of our parents work early or late shifts near Universal Studios, International Drive, and Restaurant Row. Our doors open at 6:30 AM and close at 6:30 PM on weekdays, and we offer flexible scheduling.
Toddler classes use creative play centers, early word practice, and potty training support.
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In our infant room, your baby sees the same teachers each day. Parents often name those teachers in their reviews. Caregivers stay with the same age group all day, and ratios are kept at all times. Each day includes infant feeding routines and sensory play activities.
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You can check in on your child through classroom web cameras, real-time app updates, and direct messages to teachers. Parents tell us in reviews that the front desk answers concerns the same day. Our own cook prepares breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack on site.
One Drop-Off, One Pickup
Before and After School Care With Bus Service to Palm Lake and Bay Meadows Elementary
Before and after school care at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips includes bus service to and from Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary (Orange County Public Schools). If your child attends one of those two schools, the routine is simple.
Drop off your child at our center as early as 6:30 AM.
Our bus takes your child to school.
After the school day, our bus brings your child back to us.
Your child stays with us until you pick up, as late as 6:30 PM.
After school care includes homework help, snacks, outdoor fitness, and supervision the whole time. Our pickup rules protect your child: we use key fob check-in and coded door locks, and any adult we don’t know must show ID at pickup.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
Summer My Way
Year-Round Summer Camp Shaped by Central Florida Heat
Summer My Way Summer Camp at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips serves children ages 5 to 11. School lets out for the summer, but most jobs don’t. Our camp fills that gap with week-long themes based on different states.
Campers go on two field trips each week. One stop is Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake.
Central Florida summers are hot, so we plan around the heat:
- Monday water days
- A water play area
- Shaded playground equipment
Also Included
Additional Early Learning Services We Handle
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Step Up Program support
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Potty training assistance
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Behavioral support in child care
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Full-day preschool programs
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Preschool transportation
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Snack and meals service
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Family engagement events
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Creative play sessions and sensory play
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Early math skills practice
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Preschool enrollment and child care enrollment help
Southwest Orlando
Where We Work Across Orlando
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips serves families across southwest Orlando, with Dr. Phillips as our home base.
In Dr. Phillips, our school serves families near Dr. Phillips Boulevard and the Dr. Phillips YMCA, in the area’s mature oak-lined neighborhoods. Bay Hill families will find us close by in Dr. Phillips. Williamsburg and Sand Lake parents who commute along Sand Lake Road and Restaurant Row can drop off as early as 6:30 AM. Families in the Turkey Lake area live close to Bill Frederick Park, one of our summer camp field trip stops.
Many MetroWest families are new to Florida. These parents often rely on Gold Seal status and Google reviews when they choose a school.
- Dr. Phillips
- Bay Hill
- Williamsburg
- Sand Lake
- Turkey Lake
- MetroWest
FAQ
Questions Dr. Phillips Parents Ask About Florida Child Care
What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about VPK, School Readiness, Gold Seal, the school bus and storm days.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.
(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.comFlorida VPK is free for children who turn 4 by September 1. You first get a certificate of eligibility through the state and the local early learning coalition, then bring that certificate to enroll. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips offers VPK during the school year.
Florida VPK is not a full workday; school-year VPK covers a set block of instruction hours. Working parents can add full-time care around those hours. At Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips, full-time care runs from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
School Readiness is the same program many Orange County parents still call 4C. School Readiness helps eligible working families pay for child care. The local early learning coalition decides who qualifies. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips accepts School Readiness and can help with child care enrollment.
Florida Gold Seal Quality Care means a child care center holds a DCF license plus an approved accreditation. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips holds Gold Seal along with A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. accreditation. N.E.C.P.A. looks at how adults and children interact, along with parent and community relationships.
The Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips bus serves Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary only. Before-school drop-off opens at 6:30 AM. After school, the bus brings children back to our center for homework help, snacks, and outdoor play until pickup.
Outdoor play at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips uses shaded playground equipment and a water play area on hot days. On storm afternoons, children move indoors to the library, Playtown, and the art room. Hurricane season runs June through November, so we plan for indoor backup all summer.
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.
