Ladybird Academy to open second Horizon West location

HORIZON WEST  Parents in the Windermere and Horizon West communities will have soon have a new preschool and childcare option, when Ladybird Academy’s second Windermere location opens in summer 2019.

The new childcare center, called Ladybird Academy of Wickham Park, will be located on Overstreet Road, about a mile-and-one-half down the road from the original Windermere location on Chase Road. This is the second academy in the Windermere area, and according to its website the new center will work closely with the Chase Road location to provide quality early-childhood care and education to families in the Windermere, Horizon West and Winter Garden communities. 

According to the website, both Windermere-area locations will serve Sunset Park Elementary, Bay Lake Elementary, Independence Elementary and Keene's Crossing Elementary.

“I think originally Windermere was going to be the only school in that particular region; however, it’s a very up-and-coming area with a lot of growth and new families coming in and we honestly have a massive need for childcare in that area,” said Linzi Hansla, operations manager for Ladybird Academy. “It’s difficult for our sole Windermere location to take in all the children that need care right now. We have a waitlist for every single age group at that school and are always full. As soon as we open up our VPK it literally fills up within a couple of weeks. It’s a very needed school right now. … We have a Winter Garden location, which is several miles down the road, but sometimes its not convenient for our families so they’re still going on the waitlist. Both of those schools (Windermere and Winter Garden) are at capacity.” 

County documents show that the total site area is 1.94 acres, with a 12,989-square-foot academy building, a 13,069-square-foot playground area and 39 parking spaces. It is bordered by Overstreet Road to the north and Bentonshire Avenue to the east. Hansla added that the new location also will include different enrichment rooms, and the playground is going to be different than the one at the existing Windermere location.

According to its website, Ladybird Academy has been voted as the No. 1 childcare provider in Central Florida for six years running. The academy “combines preschool early learning and education with high-quality childcare for children ages six weeks through 12 years.” It also holds the Gold Seal award from the Department of Children and Families, which “recognizes childcare centers that are accredited by national agencies whose standards reflect quality in the level of care and supervision.”

Ladybird Academy also is A.P.P.L.E (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment) and N.E.C.P.A (National Early Childhood Program Accreditation) accredited and teaches with educational curricula such as Abeka and Saxon Math. Each center includes art studios, science labs, libraries and computer labs, as well as bright and spacious classrooms equipped for each age range. 

There are currently 16 other locations in Central Florida, with three — including Wickham Park, Ocoee and St. Cloud — under construction. Additionally, there are three locations opening soon in Jacksonville and Tampa, one existing location in south Florida and one coming soon to Dallas, Texas.

“We’re looking forward to be able to take new enrollments, take new students in and continue to provide quality care in the Windermere region but also being able to offer new enrichment rooms, a discovery zone and an outside water-play area,” Hansla said. “We’re really excited about being able to offer those different things to the families there.”