Transition to Kindergarten
Transition To Kindergarten in Orlando: Get Your Child Ready at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips
Choosing a trusted child care center in Dr. Phillips can help you feel more confident about your child's next step. Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips helps families plan the transition to kindergarten in Orlando. The year before kindergarten gives your child time to build reading, math, and social skills. We offer Pre-K and Florida VPK. Your child can practice kindergarten readiness skills with us each day. We also offer before and after school care once kindergarten starts.
The Year Before Kindergarten
Spot the Kindergarten Readiness Skills Your Child Needs
We are a Florida Gold Seal Quality Care day care center. Your child learns with the Abeka curriculum and early math with Saxon Math.
VPK runs here during the school year. Your best next step is a tour of our Dr. Phillips campus at 6809 Daisy St, Orlando, FL 32819. Call (407) 412-6908 to set a time.
Kindergarten readiness comes down to a short list of skills you can watch for at home. If you have a 4-year-old in Orlando and you're not sure your child is ready, start with these:
- Saying the sounds that letters make
- Counting objects, not just reciting numbers
- Following simple directions with two or three steps
- Using the bathroom without help
- Sharing and taking turns with friends
Most children are strong in some areas and still growing in others. That's normal. The year before kindergarten is there to close those gaps.
Social-emotional learning matters as much as the ABCs. The term covers how your child handles feelings, waits a turn, and asks an adult for help. A child who knows every letter but melts down during a class change will still have a hard first month. A child who can follow a routine and calm down after a setback can focus on learning, because the classroom feels safe.
Timing matters too. Florida requires children to be 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten. So if your child turns 4 by that date, the coming school year is the Pre-K year. Plan for it now rather than in August.
When you tour Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, ask a Pre-K teacher about developmental milestones. A developmental milestone is a skill most children reach by a certain age. The teacher can tell you which ones to watch for at your child's age.
- Kindergarten 5 by Sept 1
- Pre-K Year Age 4
- Status Gold Seal
- Open 6:30–6:30
Credentials You Can Verify
Choose a Pre-K Program with Named Curriculum and Verified Credentials
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips uses named curricula and holds credentials you can verify before you sign. Families in Bay Hill and Williamsburg often compare several kindergarten prep options in Orlando, and many plan to stay with the school they pick through the early grades.
Your child learns with the Abeka curriculum, and early math skills come from Saxon Math. Because both programs are named, you can read about them on your own instead of relying on a vague "learning through play" promise.
Our school holds Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, awarded by the Florida Department of Children and Families. We are also accredited by A.P.P.L.E. (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment). Our N.E.C.P.A. (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation) is valid through April 30, 2027. N.E.C.P.A. looks at how adults interact with children and how the school works with parents and the community.
Many families move to Dr. Phillips from other states and have no local friends to ask for a referral. If that's you, check our Gold Seal status and read our reviews. Then tour the school and compare what you see with what you read.
Ms. Yliana Gomez
Director
Director Ms. Yliana Gomez brings more than 15 years of childcare experience. She holds the National Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., and the Florida Director Credential. Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips has served Dr. Phillips families since 2013.
Florida Programs
Use Florida VPK and School Readiness to Start the Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition
Florida VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is free for eligible 4-year-olds in Florida. If you moved here from the Northeast or Midwest, you may never have heard of VPK, because it's a Florida program. Here's how it works.
VPK gives your child a pre-K year at no tuition cost for the VPK hours. Families typically get a VPK Certificate of Eligibility from the state first, then bring it to a VPK provider like us. At Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, VPK runs during the school year only.
There is one tradeoff to plan for. VPK hours cover only part of a working day, and they stop for the summer. That's why many parents pair VPK with full-time care at our school, so your child stays in the same building before and after VPK time. Our flexible scheduling helps you match care to your work hours. For the summer months, ask our front desk what options fit your child's age.
Daily Practice
Build Kindergarten Routines in the Pre-K Classroom
The Pre-K Classroom at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips gives your child daily practice with the routines kindergarten will expect. If your child moves up from our toddler classes, the building and the faces already feel familiar. The new part is the structure.
Pre-K includes storytime sessions, early math skills, and creative play centers. Storytime builds listening and new words. Math time uses Saxon Math to work on counting and number sense. In creative play centers, your child makes choices, shares materials, and finishes a task, which are the same habits a kindergarten teacher looks for.
Your child also spends time in our specialty rooms:
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Art Studio
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Science Lab
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Library
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Computer Lab
Enrichment adds variety. Children try science activities, cooking activities, social studies, and language learning. Ballet dance and soccer give active kids a place to use their energy and practice following a coach.
Weather shapes our day here in Dr. Phillips. Central Florida summers are hot, and afternoon thunderstorms come often. Our playground has shaded equipment and safety surfacing for outdoor time. When storms roll in, children move inside to the Library and to Playtown, our dramatic play room.
Progress You Can Follow
Track Kindergarten Readiness in Dr. Phillips with Live Updates
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips gives working parents several ways to follow kindergarten readiness without leaving work.
With live parent camera access, you can watch your child learn in the classroom. Real-time app updates show what happened during the day, and direct teacher messaging lets you ask a question and hear back from the person who works with your child. When you have a concern, our front desk addresses it the same day, so small questions get handled before they grow into bigger worries.
We also keep an open-door policy. You can visit anytime during operating hours, with no notice needed.
Our school is 2.6 miles, about 13 minutes, from Universal Studios. We are the closest day care to Universal Studios Orlando. Parents who work hotel and theme park shifts can check the camera or the app on a break.
The Pre-K year ends with milestones you can share as a family. Family engagement events bring parents into the school during the year, and preschool graduation closes out the year before kindergarten begins.
After Kindergarten Starts
Keep the Kindergarten Year Smooth with Before and After School Care
Before and after school care at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips keeps your child on a familiar campus after kindergarten starts. This matters most for families whose child will attend Palm Lake Elementary or Bay Meadows Elementary. Our bus serves both of these Orange County Public Schools. Your child rides to school in the morning and back to us in the afternoon.
Before-school drop-off starts at 6:30 AM. Pickup runs until 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.
After the bell, your child gets child supervision and homework help while the lessons are still fresh. Snacks and outdoor fitness are part of the afternoon too.
Kindergarten brings a new teacher, new rules, and a bigger building. Coming back each afternoon to a campus your child already knows keeps one part of the day the same, and for many children that makes the rest of the change easier to handle.
The Dr. Phillips area is close to Orlando's tourism corridor, including the theme parks, International Drive, hotels, and restaurants. Many parents here work early, late, or shifting hours. Our weekday hours and flexible scheduling are set up to cover those days.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
Parent Questions
FAQ
What Orlando parents ask us about VPK, School Readiness and the move to kindergarten.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.
(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.comOrlando families should enroll a child in a kindergarten prep program the year before kindergarten begins. Florida requires children to be 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten. VPK serves eligible 4-year-olds during the school year. Plan in the spring so your child's Pre-K year is set before fall.
Yes, Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips offers Florida VPK, which is free for eligible 4-year-olds. VPK runs at our school during the school year only. Many families add full-time care so the rest of the workday is covered.
Your child uses the Abeka curriculum and Saxon Math for early math skills at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips. Children also spend time in our Art Studio, Science Lab, Library, and Computer Lab. You can look up both named curricula before your tour.
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips accepts School Readiness, the Florida program formerly called 4C. Eligibility depends on each family's situation. Call our front desk at (407) 412-6908 to talk it through.
Yes, your child can stay at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips through our before and after school care. Our bus serves Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary. Care runs from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Parents see progress during the pre-K to kindergarten transition through live parent camera access, real-time app updates, and direct teacher messaging. You can watch your child learn during the day and message teachers directly with questions.
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.
