Our North Dallas school will be closed on February 2 due to inclement weather. 

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Lakeland

Preschool and Daycare in Lakeland, Florida

Welcome to The Nest Schools of Lakeland, Florida! We are proud to offer Lakeland families childcare and early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years old. Our school’s campus has two additional buildings undergoing construction, allowing us to expand our program to VPK and school age children in the near future.

Our curriculum and program design incorporate the most current research in early development to best prepare children for their future in and out of the classroom. At The Nest, we work every day to create a culture of kindness, build the foundations for wellness for life, make learning fun, and continually take our best and make it better. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about our child care options and schedule a tour!

Our school is located across the street from Lakeland Highlands Middle Schools.

We currently do not offer before and after-school care. Our school’s campus has two additional buildings undergoing construction, allowing us to expand our program to VPK and school age children in the near future.

The Nest Difference

At The Nest, we take every precaution to ensure your child’s health and safety when they spend their day with us. Our schools provide layers of security measures to protect the children in our care.
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Our curriculum and program design incorporate the most current research in early development to best prepare children for their future in and out of the classroom. Each element of our Nest Play curriculum shares one goal: to help children love to learn.
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Communication with our families is a top priority at The Nest Schools. Everything from the face-to-face interactions during pick up and drop off times, individual conference times, school e-newsletter, daily reporting app, and interactive displays outside every classroom allow for parents to be fully involved and in the know on their child’s learning and progress.
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At The Nest Schools, we hire teachers who have a genuine love for young children and share our vision of raising a world of kind, healthy, and inspired kids. All of our teachers are highly-trained youth developers who are dedicated to bringing out what is special and unique about each child.
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At The Nest, we set out to create outdoor environments that entice children to engage with nature. Our playgrounds are rich with plants and natural elements, exciting play themes, and physical challenges. Children can learn to assess risks and test their boundaries within an environment that was created with their safety, health, and skill-building in mind.
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Our Lakeland Leadership Team

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Sydney Crowe

Director
Sydney comes to The Nest with her Directors Credentials, a National CDA, and having worked in early education since 2003. She absolutely loves working with children and is very passionate about helping fellow teachers reach their goals.

Sydney currently lives in Dade city with her husband. She loves video games, all things Harry Potter, Superheroes, Disney, and so much more. The force is strong with this one. Most of her free time is spent at home crafting, reading books about adventure, or hanging out in downtown Dade City with the rest of the locals!

Gisselt Peguero

Assistant Director
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Erica Sapienza

Regional Director
Erica has been in early childhood education since 2010 and has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s in elementary education. Erica has served in many roles throughout her career, including: a teacher, director, regional director, curriculum writing, and human resources. Erica enjoys working one-on-one with children and watching them reach milestones. She also enjoys building relationships with staff and families.

Erica lives with her husband, son, twin girls, and her chocolate lab. In her spare time, she loves going to the beach and exploring the Disney parks. Erica is also an avid runner and has completed four marathons!

Our Lakeland Educational Programs

Hummingbirds

We understand that infants need nurturing, and parents need to feel secure knowing their child is in good hands. Our infant teachers are hand-picked natural caregivers who focus on meeting the individual needs of every child. While your child is in our care, you can rest assured that they will receive the attention and interaction they need and deserve.

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Ducklings

We recognize that your young toddler has the capacity to learn so much in the first few years of their life by simply having opportunities to explore and play amongst peers. Our teachers encourage learning through daily routines and experiences involving health and physical development, social-emotional development, language and literacy development, and so much more.

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Cardinals

Our Cardinal program supports older toddlers and their increased independence, exploration of emotions and feelings, and fast-developing use of language. We also understand and support their continued desire to explore everything about their world. We believe our play-based philosophy and learning center structure gives them the best opportunity to do this.

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Penguins

The early preschool years are nothing short of amazing! Children at this age have an overwhelming eagerness to learn and you will notice that their ability to experiment, explore, and focus on set activities begins to change rapidly. Our Penguin program supports young preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged, and encouraged in their learning and personal interests.

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Robins

The older preschool years consist of so much learning and development! Their peer relationships are strengthening, they have a more complex understanding and use of language, and their overall motor skills have developed rapidly. Our Robins program continues to provide for preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged, and supported in their learning and personal interests.

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Full-time, Private

GREAT things come from great BEGINNINGS! Our private kindergarten programs will help your child excel in a small classroom environment giving them a successful start to their elementary years. Our comprehensive curriculum will use a mix of requirements from the Department of Education alongside our Nest Play curriculum to prepare children for first grade and beyond.

Private kindergarten is not available at our Lakeland location.

Pelicans / Before & After School

Our School Age program provides children with opportunities for exploration, creativity, and fun challenges to support them in becoming their best selves. Our program consists of a mix of guided activities planned by the children and teacher-guided activities.

Summer Fun for Your Child

Summer is one of the things children look forward to the most. School’s out, and children are ready to get back to their much-awaited playtime. But instead of letting your child become glued to TV screens, computers, or mobile devices watching cartoons or playing video games, this may be the perfect time to encourage them to engage in activities that offer the right balance between learning and fun. This is where summer camps come in!

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What Our Families Are Saying

“We are so grateful for The Nest Schools! We have had amazing teachers so far, and our son loves every minute of school! What I love is that even the teachers that our son hasn’t had yet all know him by name, and treat him like he is one of their own students. We would (and do) recommend The Nest to anyone that asks.”

Amanda Lacks

“The things we like best about our child care experience at The Nest Schools are that we’re always greeted each morning with the staff’s friendly smiles and positive attitudes. Both of our children feel welcomed and have developed wonderful relationships. We are also impressed by the level of safety and the daily curriculum.”

Stephanie & Ryan Briggs

“To us, The Nest Schools has meant more than just childcare; they have been our partner in the development and success of our kids! ”

Stephen Starr

Schedule Your Tour

Scheduling a tour does not guarantee availability.
The School Director will be able to confirm space in your child’s program during the tour.