Afterschool Program
Afterschool Program in Orlando
The school bell rings hours before most parents clock out. Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips runs an afterschool program in Orlando that covers that gap for families in the Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary zones. Our bus picks children up at both Orange County Public Schools campuses and brings them to our center on Daisy Street. From there, your child gets homework help, outdoor and playground time, supervision, enrichment, and care until 6:30 PM.
Licensed, Accredited, Gold Seal
How Afterschool Care Works for Orlando Families in the Dr. Phillips Area
Many Dr. Phillips parents work early, late or shifting hours at Universal Orlando, on International Drive and along the Sand Lake Road “Restaurant Row,” so the afternoon has to stretch further than a standard school day. We are licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and hold Florida Gold Seal Quality Care, with A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. accreditation.
Florida DCF licenses child care facilities in Orange County, and that license is the starting point for any after school care you consider. Gold Seal Quality Care goes a step further: it is a DCF award that requires both DCF licensure and approved accreditation. At Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips, that accreditation is A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. Our N.E.C.P.A. accreditation is valid through April 30, 2027.
State rules shape the afternoon itself. Florida sets staff-to-child ratios for school-age groups, and we maintain ratios at all times. Florida also requires background screening for child care staff. Our staff meet or exceed Florida state credential requirements, and all staff are CPR/First Aid certified.
- Bus pickup 2 schools
- Care until 6:30 PM
- Ages 5 to 12
- Quality Gold Seal
The families we serve explain why those details matter. In ZIP 32819, the median household income is $86,306, about 59% of housing is owner-occupied, and the median home value is $421,300. Many households here have two working parents in professional jobs, and many families stay with one program for two to five years. When you’re making a commitment that long, it makes sense to check credentials, staff and daily routines before you sign.
Hospitality, restaurant and corporate jobs along Sand Lake Road, Dr. Phillips Boulevard and the I-4 interchange rarely end when school lets out. That is why our care runs until 6:30 PM instead of stopping at dismissal.
Dr. Phillips and MetroWest also see steady moves from the Northeast and Midwest. A family that just arrived has no neighbor to ask for a recommendation, so Gold Seal status, accreditation and reviews often become the main way to compare programs.
Orlando stays warm year-round, summer afternoons bring frequent thunderstorms, and hurricane season runs June through November. We plan outdoor time with all of that in mind.
Palm Lake and Bay Meadows
After School Care With Bus Pickup From Palm Lake and Bay Meadows Elementary
Our after school bus serves two Orange County Public Schools campuses: Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary. If your child attends either school, the bus brings your child from campus straight to our center. You don’t need to leave work and drive down Dr. Phillips Boulevard or Sand Lake Road in the middle of your shift.
We build this care around the schedules of those two schools rather than a generic dismissal time. We do not run the bus to other campuses, so families at other schools would need to arrange their own transportation.
Checkout follows our safe pickup procedures. Parents use key fob check-in, our doors use coded locks, and we require ID from any adult we do not know before a child leaves with that person.
Done Before Pickup
Homework Help Built Around the Orange County Public Schools Week
Homework help at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips gives Palm Lake and Bay Meadows students a set time to finish their OCPS assignments before you arrive. After snack, children have time for homework, with staff available to help. They can read and work in our on-site Library and Computer Lab.
When homework is done before pickup, your evening stays open for dinner and family time. That matters most for parents finishing late shifts near International Drive, who may not walk in the door until close to 7:00 PM.
You can message your child’s teacher directly through the app if an assignment raises a question. If you have a concern, our front desk responds the same day.
Playground Time
Outdoor and Playground Time That Works Around Orlando’s Afternoon Storms
Outdoor activity time at our Dr. Phillips center gives school-age kids a chance to move after a full OCPS school day. Most children have been sitting at a desk for hours by the time the bus arrives. A block of running, climbing and games helps many of them settle down for homework later.
Our playground has safety surfacing and shaded equipment, and our water play area helps on hot Central Florida afternoons. Staff supervise free play and lead organized games such as soccer. Orlando’s warm climate means outdoor time continues through fall, winter and spring, not only in summer.
Summer thunderstorms often roll in during after-school hours, so we plan the outdoor block flexibly. When lightning or heavy rain moves in, we move children indoors to:
- The library
- Our “Playtown” dramatic play room
- The art room
On a stormy day, outdoor time may come earlier or run shorter than planned.
Outside Reviews You Can Check
Child Supervision Under Florida DCF Licensing and Gold Seal Standards
Child supervision at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips rests on Florida DCF licensure, the Florida Gold Seal Quality Care award, and A.P.P.L.E. plus N.E.C.P.A. accreditation. N.E.C.P.A. (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation) looks at how adults interact with children and how a program works with parents and the community. For a family new to Florida, these outside reviews can stand in for the neighbor recommendation you don’t have yet.
You can see the day for yourself. Parents have live camera access, real-time app updates and direct teacher messaging. Our open-door policy lets you visit anytime during operating hours with no notice needed. We are also 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
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 a National Child Development Associate (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.
Meet our leadership teamFour Specialty Rooms
Enrichment After the Bell: Science Lab, Art Studio, Ballet and Soccer in Dr. Phillips
Enrichment at our Dr. Phillips center gives school-age children something to build on between homework and pickup. We have four specialty rooms on site:
Activities across the afternoon can include science activities, cooking activities, ballet and dance, soccer and language learning classes. The mix changes, and we do not promise a fixed weekly slot for each one. If a particular activity matters to your child, ask us during your tour how it fits into the current schedule.
Many Dr. Phillips families weighing a multi-year commitment want to know what their child will do from dismissal to 6:30 PM over several school years. We’d rather show you the rooms on a tour than describe them in general terms.
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Art Studio
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Science Lab
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Library
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Computer Lab
One Drop-Off, One Pickup
6:30 AM to 6:30 PM Hours for Sand Lake Road and Theme Park Work Shifts
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Those hours fit parents who work at Universal Orlando, nearby hotels, Restaurant Row and corporate offices near the I-4 interchange.
Before-school drop-off starts at 6:30 AM. Your child has time at the center, then rides the bus to Palm Lake Elementary or Bay Meadows Elementary. After school, the bus brings your child back. One drop-off and one pickup can cover the whole school day.
Hospitality schedules often rotate, and flexible scheduling helps when your shifts move from week to week. Talk with our front desk about your pattern so we can plan around it.
Our center is 2.6 miles (about 13 minutes) from Universal Studios, and we are the closest daycare to Universal Studios Orlando. For a parent working at the park, that short distance can make the 6:30 PM pickup easier to reach.
- Palm Lake Elementary
- Bay Meadows Elementary
Care All Year
School Break and Summer Coverage When OCPS Classes Let Out
Summer care at Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips keeps going when Orange County Public Schools classes end, because many families still work through the break.
Our Summer My Way Summer Camp serves ages 5 to 11. Each week has a state theme, Mondays are water days, and campers take two field trips per week. Field trip destinations include Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake.
Central Florida summers are hot, and storms are frequent. We use the water play area and shaded playground equipment on hot days. When storms move in, campers head indoors to the library, Playtown and the art room. Hurricane season runs June through November, which overlaps the summer camp season, so indoor space matters.
Also Included
Additional afterschool program services we handle
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Snack and meals service with fresh, balanced food cooked on site by our own cook
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Safe pick up and drop off procedures at every checkout
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Family engagement events that bring parents into the center
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Behavioral support for kids who need extra help settling in
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Social studies activities as part of the afternoon
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Cooking activities
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Language learning classes
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Field trips during summer camp
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School Readiness (formerly 4C) participation for eligible families
Southwest Orlando
Where We Work Across Orlando
Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips serves school-age families in southwest Orlando, starting with our home neighborhood. Our center sits among the oak-lined streets of Dr. Phillips, and the school bus runs to Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary from here.
Bay Hill is close by, and families there can use our 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM weekday hours. Williamsburg families with longer workdays can use our 6:30 PM pickup. In Sand Lake and the Turkey Lake area, families live close to Bill Frederick Park, one of our summer field trip stops.
MetroWest is a common landing spot for families moving to Orlando, and many of them rely on Gold Seal status and accreditation to choose care.
- Dr. Phillips
- Bay Hill
- Williamsburg
- Sand Lake
- Turkey Lake
- MetroWest
Schedule a tour of the Dr. Phillips center. Ladybird Academy of Dr Phillips | 6809 Daisy St, Orlando, FL 32819 | (407) 412-6908 | drphillips@ladybirdacademy.com
FAQ
Afterschool Care Questions for Orlando and Florida Families
What Dr. Phillips parents ask us about the bus, Gold Seal, School Readiness and staffing.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to help. Call during school hours or send us an email.
(407) 412-6908 drphillips@ladybirdacademy.comThe Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips after school bus picks up from Palm Lake Elementary and Bay Meadows Elementary, both Orange County Public Schools campuses. We do not run the bus to any other school. The same bus also takes children to those two schools in the morning after before-school drop-off.
Florida Gold Seal Quality Care is a DCF award given to licensed child care providers that also hold approved accreditation. Our approved accreditations are A.P.P.L.E. and N.E.C.P.A. Gold Seal tells you that outside reviewers have looked at the program, beyond the basic state license.
School Readiness funding can help eligible Orange County families pay for after school care, and Ladybird Academy of Dr. Phillips participates in the program. School Readiness, formerly called 4C, is Florida’s child care subsidy program, run through the local Early Learning Coalition. The coalition determines eligibility, not our center, so the coalition is the place to start an application.
Florida VPK does not cover after school hours for older kids. VPK is free pre-K for eligible 4-year-olds, and we offer VPK during the school year only. School-age care for children attending Palm Lake or Bay Meadows Elementary is a separate program with its own enrollment.
Florida law requires background screening for child care staff, including staff who work with school-age children after school. Our staff also meet or exceed Florida state credential requirements, and all staff are CPR/First Aid certified. Background screening is part of DCF licensing requirements.
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.
