Preschool
Preschool in Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Community
In Orlando, many families start their search in Dr. Phillips, the southwest Orlando community around Sand Lake Road and Dr. Phillips Boulevard. If you’re looking for preschool in Orlando’s southwest side, Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips offers toddler classes, the Abeka and Saxon Math curriculum, Pre-K and VPK, full-day care, a before and after school bus, and preschool graduation, all at one school.
Florida Rules, Plainly
How Preschool Works for Orlando Families in Dr. Phillips
The schedule matters as much as the lessons. Many Dr. Phillips parents work early, late, or shifting hours in hospitality, at the theme parks, and in corporate offices along the I-4 corridor. That’s why we’re open weekdays from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Our program also holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, plus A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. accreditation.
See how a preschool day runs in Dr. Phillips. Ask us to walk you through a classroom during a normal morning.
Preschool in Dr. Phillips runs under Florida rules that apply to every licensed classroom in the state. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) licenses child care centers. It sets staff-to-child ratios by age, which limits how many children one teacher may supervise, and it requires Level 2 background screening (a key fob-based check) for staff. Gold Seal Quality Care is a DCF designation that requires a license plus an accepted accreditation.
Two state programs also shape preschool here. Florida VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is free for eligible 4-year-olds. School Readiness (formerly 4C) helps qualifying working families with care costs. Both programs run through the state Division of Early Learning and the local early learning coalition.
- Homes owned 59%
- To Universal 2.6 miles
- Open from 6:30 AM
- Quality Gold Seal
In ZIP 32819, 59% of homes are owner-occupied. Most families here are settled, not passing through, and in many homes both parents work. That affects how you should choose, because you may stay with one school for two to five years. Before you sign, check credentials, ask which teachers your child will have, and look at the actual curriculum.
Work hours drive many choices too. The Sand Lake Road “Restaurant Row,” International Drive hotels, and Universal Orlando (2.6 miles, about 13 minutes from us) keep many parents on early or late shifts. Our weekday hours of 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM fit those shifts.
Orlando has no winter pause, so outdoor play runs all year. Summer brings heat, afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane season from June through November. Shaded playground equipment helps on hot days, and indoor rooms keep the day going when storms roll in.
Dr. Phillips and MetroWest see steady moves from the Northeast and Midwest. If you just arrived, you may not have a neighbor to ask. Gold Seal status, reviews, and clear program details carry extra weight in that case, so we state ours plainly.
Named Programs
Abeka and Saxon Math Curriculum in Dr. Phillips Preschool Classrooms
Our preschool curriculum uses two named programs: Abeka for early reading and phonics, and Saxon Math for early math skills. If you live in Dr. Phillips, Bay Hill, or Williamsburg and want to know what your child will actually learn, beyond “learning through play,” these two programs give you a concrete answer.
Abeka teaches letter sounds first, then blends those sounds into simple words. Saxon Math builds counting, patterns, and number sense in small steps, with regular review so earlier skills stay fresh.
A typical week mixes science activities, cooking activities, social studies, storytime sessions, and creative play centers. Florida VPK has state learning standards, and our curriculum focuses on kindergarten readiness skills.
Free VPK Year
Pre-K Classroom Built Around Florida’s Free VPK School Year
Florida VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is free for every eligible Florida 4-year-old. Your child must turn 4 on or before September 1 of that school year. If you moved here from a state with no free pre-K, VPK may be new to you, and the steps are simple.
First, get a VPK certificate of eligibility through the state Family Portal. Then bring that certificate when you enroll. At our school, VPK runs during the school year only.
New families often miss one point: VPK hours cover only part of the day. If you work a full shift, you can pair VPK hours with full-time care so your child stays with us for your whole workday.
Drop-Off to Pickup
Full-Day Preschool From 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM for Sand Lake Road and Theme-Park Shift Workers
Full-day preschool at Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips runs weekdays, with drop-off from 6:30 AM and pickup until 6:30 PM. We also offer flexible scheduling. These hours fit parents who work at Universal Orlando, International Drive hotels, Restaurant Row, and nearby corporate offices.
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips is the closest daycare to Universal Studios Orlando, 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) away. A short drive matters when your shift starts early or ends late.
When your child is with us from early morning into the evening, meals are part of the care. Through our on-site nutrition program, our own cook prepares breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack right here every day.
You also stay connected while you work. During the day you get:
- Live camera access to your child’s classroom
- Real-time updates through our app
- Direct messaging with your child’s teacher
A First Group Routine
Toddler Classes in Dr. Phillips With Potty Training Support
Toddler classes at our Dr. Phillips school give young children a steady first group routine. Some toddlers move up from our infant room. Others are starting group care for the first time.
A toddler class day includes sensory play, storytime, creative play sessions, early words, and simple routines like handwashing and cleanup. Because Florida DCF sets smaller group ratios for younger children than for preschoolers, each toddler gets more adult attention.
Potty training works best when home and class match. Our teachers offer potty training support, and progress is usually smoother when your child hears the same words and follows the same steps in both places.
Parents name the same infant room teachers across multiple reviews. Our teachers stay with the same age group all day, which helps toddlers settle. Our outdoor play activities give toddlers time to move and explore. Shaded playground equipment helps on hot Orlando days.
New to Orlando
Preschool Enrollment for Families Moving Into Dr. Phillips and MetroWest
Preschool enrollment follows a clear set of steps, which helps families new to Orlando who have no local friends to ask. Many of these families come from the Northeast or Midwest. At most preschools, the steps usually look like this:
On your tour, ask about Gold Seal status, accreditation, staff credentials, camera access, meals, and hours. Clear answers to those questions tell you more than a brochure.
Florida requires a state immunization record (form DH 680) and a physical exam form for child care enrollment, so bring both. If you plan to use funding, mention it early: VPK certificate, School Readiness (formerly 4C), or the Step Up Program. Our front desk responds to parent concerns the same day.
Schedule a classroom tour. See the rooms, meet the teachers, and bring your questions.
One Stop for Siblings
Before and After School Bus Serving Palm Lake and Bay Meadows Elementary
If you’re comparing preschool transportation options for your family’s routine, ask which ages and schools each service covers. Our before and after school bus serves Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary. The program helps families with a preschooler at our school and an older child at one of those two schools.
Before school, you can drop off from 6:30 AM, and your older child then rides the bus to school. Safe pick up and drop off is part of the program.
After school, the bus brings children back to us. The afternoon includes:
- Homework help
- Child supervision
- Outdoor time
Pickup runs until 6:30 PM. Siblings stay at one location, so you make one drop-off and one pickup instead of two.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
Credentials Side by Side
Early Childhood Education Held to Florida Gold Seal, A.P.P.L.E., and N.E.C.P.A. Standards
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, awarded through the Florida Department of Children and Families. When choosing early childhood education in Dr. Phillips, you can compare providers’ credentials side by side before you choose.
We hold two accreditations. A.P.P.L.E. stands for Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment. N.E.C.P.A. (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation) reviews adult-child interaction and parent-community relationships.
Our staff meet or exceed Florida credential requirements. We are members of F.A.C.C.M. (Florida Association of Child Care Management) and N.C.C.A. (National Child Care Association).
Ms. Yliana Gomez
Director
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips has served Dr. Phillips families since 2013. Director Ms. Yliana Gomez has 15+ years in childcare. She joined the school when it opened in 2013 and has served as director since 2015. Ms. Gomez holds a National CDA credential from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., along with the Florida Director Credential, and she is a member of the Children’s Forum.
On to Kindergarten
Preschool Graduation and the Move to Orange County Public Schools Kindergarten
Preschool graduation marks the end of Pre-K and the start of kindergarten planning for our families. Florida children start kindergarten when they turn 5 on or before September 1.
Families join us for preschool graduation, one of our family engagement events. We also offer guidance on the move to kindergarten, so you know what to expect at your OCPS school before the first day.
Also Included
Additional Preschool Services We Handle in Dr. Phillips
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Preschool programs for infants through Pre-K
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Infant care and infant feeding with consistent infant room teachers
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School Readiness (formerly 4C) participation for qualifying families
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Step Up Program accepted
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After school care with homework help
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Kids summer camp with week-long sessions, field trips, and Monday water days
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Ballet dance, soccer, and language learning classes
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Science, cooking, and social studies activities
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Sensory play activities and creative play centers
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Storytime sessions
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Outdoor play on shaded playground equipment, plus a water play area
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Snack and meals service from our on-site nutrition program
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Behavioral support in child care
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Family engagement events
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Flexible scheduling with safe pick up and drop off
Southwest Orlando
Where We Work Across Orlando
Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips serves families across southwest Orlando, with our home base in Dr. Phillips. That’s an established community of mature, oak-lined neighborhoods, convenient for parents who work along Dr. Phillips Boulevard and Sand Lake Road.
Families in nearby Bay Hill can find a named curriculum and accreditation close to home. In Williamsburg, parents can use our before-school drop-off from 6:30 AM on their way to work. Toward Sand Lake and the Turkey Lake area, our summer campers visit Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake on field trips. And in MetroWest, where many families arrive from out of state without a local referral, the enrollment steps and tour questions above give you a clear place to start.
- Dr. Phillips
- Bay Hill
- Williamsburg
- Sand Lake
- Turkey Lake
- MetroWest
Start enrollment and meet the director. Book a tour, see the classrooms, and talk with Ms. Gomez about your child.
FAQ
Preschool FAQ for Dr. Phillips and Orange County Families
What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about VPK, Gold Seal, School Readiness, the 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.comYour child is old enough for Florida VPK when your child turns 4 on or before September 1 of that school year. VPK is free for eligible children. You get a certificate of eligibility through the state Family Portal and bring it to enrollment. At our school, VPK runs during the school year only.
Florida Gold Seal Quality Care means a preschool holds a DCF license plus an accepted accreditation. The designation comes from the Florida Department of Children and Families. Our program holds Gold Seal along with A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. accreditation.
School Readiness (formerly 4C) can help qualifying working families in Orange County pay for preschool. The state program runs through the local early learning coalition. Families apply with the coalition, and our school participates in the program.
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 come back to us, and pickup runs until 6:30 PM.
Orlando summer storms and hurricane season (June through November) move parts of our preschool day indoors to the Library, Playtown, and art room. On hot, clear days, children use shaded playground equipment and our water play area. You get updates through our app and teacher messaging.
Your child can start kindergarten in Orange County after turning 5 on or before September 1. Our Pre-K program and transition to kindergarten support help prepare your child for OCPS kindergarten.
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.
