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Preschool Programs

Preschool Programs in Orlando: Gold Seal Learning at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips

When you're choosing preschool for 2s and 3s in Orlando, you want to feel confident about your child's day. You want to know what your child will learn each day and who will teach it. Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips offers toddler classes, Pre-K, VPK and full-day preschool on one campus. We're a Gold Seal day care center with full-day programs, so your child keeps learning while you work. Our doors are open Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. A tour is the clearest way to see the classrooms and decide if we fit your family.

The Short Version

Preschool Programs in Orlando at a Glance

Preschool at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips is full-day early childhood education for Orlando children. Each day builds kindergarten readiness, which means the reading, math and classroom skills a child needs to start kindergarten well.

  • Abeka curriculum for early literacy and Saxon Math for early math skills
  • Toddler classes, a Pre-K Classroom and Florida VPK
  • Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, plus APPLE and NECPA accreditation
Pink PlayTown storefront with window boxes of flowers
  • Open 6:30 AM
  • Pickup by 6:30 PM
  • Programs Full day
  • Quality Gold Seal

One Building, Every Year

Preschool Programs for Every Age, From Toddler Classes to Pre-K

Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips lets your child grow from toddler care to preschool graduation in one building. That matters whether you're moving a toddler up or enrolling a 3 or 4 year old for the first time. For families in Bay Hill and Williamsburg, one campus covers the toddler years through kindergarten readiness, and your child keeps the same school and the same front desk while moving from room to room.

The path usually looks like this:

  1. Toddler care, where young children settle into daily routines

  2. Toddler classes in our Toddler and 2s rooms, where group learning begins

  3. The Pre-K Classroom, where the 3s and VPK rooms shift the focus to kindergarten readiness

  4. Preschool graduation, the last step before kindergarten

Potty training is often the skill that holds a toddler back from the next room. Our teachers give potty training support as part of toddler care, so practice happens during the day and not only at home.

Every program here is full day. That matches a regular workday, with no midday pickup to plan around. The tradeoff is that we don't offer half-day spots, so if you only want mornings, we may not be the right fit.

Cozy classroom corner with a child-size couch and a road play rug

Two Named Programs

Abeka and Saxon Math Build Kindergarten Readiness

Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips teaches with two named programs: the Abeka curriculum and Saxon Math. A named curriculum gives you something to look up and ask about, so you know what your child is actually learning.

Abeka builds reading skills through phonics. Phonics teaches children the sounds letters make, so they can sound out new words. Saxon Math builds early math skills, such as counting and working with numbers, in small steps.

Around those lessons, the day includes:

  • Storytime sessions
  • Science activities and cooking activities
  • Social studies
  • Language learning, with conversational Spanish from age 2

Children also use our specialty rooms: an Art Studio, a Science Lab, a Library and a Computer Lab. A room set up for one subject gives a lesson real tools to work with.

Social-emotional learning gets the same attention as letters and numbers. This kind of learning covers taking turns, following directions and handling big feelings. When a child struggles, our behavioral support gives the child steady guidance toward good classroom habits. Our goal is for your child to walk into a kindergarten classroom ready to listen, sit for a lesson and start reading.

New to Florida

Florida VPK and School Readiness Help Families Plan Enrollment

Florida VPK is often new to families who moved to Orlando from a state without free pre-K. Many Dr. Phillips newcomers come from the Northeast and Midwest, so a quick explanation helps you plan.

VPK stands for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten. Florida VPK is free for eligible 4-year-olds. At Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, VPK runs during the school year only. Because our programs are full day, ask us how VPK fits into your child's full schedule and what your summer plan will look like.

School Readiness (formerly 4C) is another Florida program we accept. It has its own eligibility rules, separate from VPK, so ask us which program may apply to your family.

Quality You Can Check

Gold Seal and Dual Accreditation Show Quality You Can Check

Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, awarded by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). A school must be licensed by DCF before it can earn the Gold Seal.

If you're new to Orlando, you may be choosing a school for several years without a friend nearby to ask. A credential you can check gives you more to go on than a promise.

Our school also holds two accreditations. APPLE stands for Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment. NECPA, the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, looks at how adults and children interact and how the school works with parents and the community. Our NECPA accreditation is valid through April 30, 2027. We are members of FACCM (Florida Association of Child Care Management) and NCCA (National Child Care Association).

Ms. Yliana Gomez

Director

Ms. Yliana Gomez is our Director and has more than 15 years of childcare experience. She joined the school as a VPK teacher when it opened in 2013, served as Assistant Director, and has been Director since 2015. Her credentials include the National CDA (Child Development Associate) credential from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., and the Florida Director Credential. She is also a member of the Children's Forum.

All of our teachers meet or exceed Florida state credential requirements, and all staff are CPR and First Aid certified.

Ask us about any of these credentials on your tour. You can then confirm Gold Seal status with DCF and each accreditation with the group that grants it.

Built for Work Shifts

Daily Schedules Built for Working Orlando Families

Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips opens at 6:30 AM and closes at 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Those hours help parents who work at theme parks, hotels and restaurants, where shifts often start early or run late. We also offer flexible scheduling, so ask how your work week fits. We're closed Saturday and Sunday, so weekend shifts need a separate plan.

You can stay connected during your workday in three ways:

  • Live camera access to your child’s classroom
  • Real-time app updates
  • Direct messages with your child’s teacher

Meals come from our on-site nutrition program. Our own cook prepares breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack fresh each day, so you don't need to pack meals before an early shift.

Ladybird Academy is the closest day care to Universal Studios Orlando. We are 2.6 miles, about 13 minutes, from Universal Studios. For a parent who works there, that means a short trip between drop-off and the start of a shift.

Classroom learning center shelves with labeled bins

Rain or Shine

Outdoor Play and Rainy Day Plans for Florida Weather

Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips plans outdoor play around Florida weather all year. On hot days, children use shaded playground equipment and our water play area. The playground has safety surfacing under the equipment.

Active play comes in many forms:

  • Sensory play, which uses touch, sound and movement to help children learn

  • Creative play centers

  • Ballet and dance

  • Soccer

Central Florida summers bring frequent afternoon thunderstorms. When a storm rolls in, play moves indoors to the library, the art room and Playtown, our dramatic play room where children act out everyday roles. Your child stays active even when the playground is closed.

Families near Turkey Lake need child care all year, so our outdoor and indoor play plans cover every season, not just the school year.

Five Steps

How to Enroll Your Child in Preschool at Ladybird Academy

Enrollment at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips generally follows these steps:

  1. Call or message the front desk.

    Parents say in reviews that their concerns are addressed the same day.

  2. Tour the classrooms and specialty rooms.

    See the Pre-K Classroom, the Art Studio, the Science Lab, the Library and the Computer Lab.

  3. Meet the director and teachers.

    Ms. Gomez leads a team with long tenure, including Brittany (10 years) and Hind (7 years).

  4. Ask about VPK or School Readiness eligibility.

    Bring your questions about which program may fit.

  5. Pick a schedule and complete enrollment.

    Choose the hours that match your work week.

If you drive Dr. Phillips Boulevard and nearby roads each day, a tour can fit around a morning drop-off or an evening commute.

Parent Questions

FAQ

What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about VPK, curriculum, cameras and schedules.

Still have questions?

Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.

(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.com

Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips offers Florida VPK for eligible 4-year-olds. VPK is free for children who qualify. At our school, VPK runs during the school year only, so ask us how it fits a full-day schedule and your summer plans.

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
Front entrance of Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, a yellow building with the Ladybird sign

Prefer to talk? Call (407) 412-6908

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