NOVA Early Learning’s Early Development Center (EDC, also called our “Landsdowne II Campus” sometimes) provides caring, quality daycare in Alexandria, VA. The Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning has been a leader in early childhood education in the Northern Virginia area since 1996. The Fairfax County community trusts our Early Development Center to offer children a safe, nurturing environment in which they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We have served hundreds of families in the Alexandria, Virginia area through the years, and we’d love to welcome your family into ours!
* Meals / snacks are not included for children with food allergies. This is the safest approach. Meal / snack exclusions do not affect tuition costs.
Programs Offered
Infant Care
Toddler Care
Two-Year-Old Program
Schools Serviced
Does not provide School Age Care
NOTE: The Schools Serviced are subject to change based on number of students enrolled from each public school.
Features of Our Clean, Secure, and Conveniently Located Facility
Our Early Development Center is a specialized campus dedicated to nurturing our youngest learners, including infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds. Conveniently located next to our Lansdowne campus, this facility provides a seamless transition for children as they grow and continue their educational journey just steps away.
Situated in the heart of Kingstowne (in Alexandria, Virginia) within the Lansdowne Shopping Center, this premier location offers unparalleled convenience for families. Parents can enjoy easy access to nearby amenities, including a coffee shop for breakfast or a variety of dining options for dinner. Additionally, we are directly across from Wegmans and just outside Fort Belvoir Military Base, making this an ideal choice for military families and the surrounding community.
More Than Daycare: We Offer Safe and Caring Childcare, Preschool, and Other Programs!
From infancy through preschool and into the crucial school-age years, NOVA Early Learning is committed to fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. Our programs, curriculum, classrooms, play areas, toys, and learning materials cater to a variety of ages and developmental stages. Our goal is to give your child a variety of experiences that will develop him or her socially, emotionally and educationally.
Infant Care in Alexandria, VA
Our infant care program provides a nurturing atmosphere designed to meet each child’s unique needs. Each infant enrolled at Northern Virginia Academy is assigned to a primary care group which ensures the one-on-one attention and care infants need to thrive. This personal, nurturing process fosters a trusting relationship between the child and the primary caregiver where the infant’s developmental needs set the day’s schedule.
Our toddler care program is designed for the child who wants to explore their world as they develop a sense of self. Each group of five toddlers has a primary teacher assigned to them that watches them closely to determine where their interests lead them. Soft play areas, indoor play equipment, and a variety of pull and push toys enable toddlers to discover and explore in a safe, fun, and exciting environment.
Our two-year-old program focuses on stimulating language, creativity, and cognitive skills along with social and physical growth. A day-to-day schedule and weekly plan is created and shared with parents for these six areas. Each day your child experiences creative play, story time, art, language development, music and movement along with other activities designed to promote all areas of development.
Our Directors, Teachers, and Staff Are Dedicated and Well-Trained
Our team embraces the philosophy of learning in a loving environment by creating a nurturing environment where learning is fun and exciting! At Northern Virginia Academy’s Early Development Center, we are proud to employ a culturally diverse, highly trained, and caring staff. Our teachers and management engage our children in activities and experiences that propel them to grow and learn. These childcare professionals provide a “home away from home” for your child with stimulating social, emotional, and physical learning opportunities.
District Director
Shareese Ladd, BS/Psychology, MA/Early Childhood Education About Me
My name is Shareese Ladd, and I would like to introduce myself as the District Director of Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Liberty University and a Master’s degree from Capella University in Early Childhood Education. I have completed several developmental studies on adolescents from birth to age five.
I am originally from Brooklyn, New York and I relocated to Northern Virginia with my family as an adolescent. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling with my husband. Our goal is to travel to all 50 states.
I have been in the childcare field for more than 18 years, 12 of them at of Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning. My goal in the educational leadership of Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning is to maintain an open, strong and trusting work environment, with management and staff that are dedicated to upholding the honor and privilege of making an impact on the lives of small developing children. Working with people and children is something that I thoroughly enjoy doing, and I couldn’t imagine a career doing anything else. Thank you for the opportunity to serve your family.
My daughter was in the infant room and toddler room and our experience with Ms. Cici and the teachers there was wonderful. They were communicative, responsive to concerns (especially from an anxious first time mom), and my daughter was happy, healthy, and well-cared for every day. The pictures and updates through the app gave peace of mind as well as the secured entry. We were so happy with this campus that when we had to change centers due to a new job, we chose another one of their campuses. Overall, I recommend this daycare as a great place to help your child learn, grow, and thrive.
NVLA has surpassed my expectations for caring and teaching my 4 year old son. The director, assistant director, and teachers are knowledgeable, organized, and caring. They are truly dedicated to providing a safe and loving learning environment for littles.The staff are up to date with STEAM learning but also ‘modern’ in the way they communicate with the children - acknowledging emotions and listening to them while strategically teaching them life lessons. My son isn’t always easy (what little human is) and we recent had an issue with something he said. All staff involved were able to find the right words to guide him and us as parents through the situation. Additionally, the communication is great. I always know what is going on in the school and classroom (even lunch) through materials sent home. Just such a positive experience so far and we are so grateful.
Long overdo review, but I can say that I have a lot of experience at NVA Landsdowne. I've had kids in the infant, younger 3's, older 3's, older 4's, and junior kindergarten class. When we were researching preschools, we were nervous about finding the right fit. Even after going through all the tours and asking around, we felt more confused and unsure. In the end, we decided to enroll our kid at NVA and could not be happier with this decision! I've been thoroughly impressed with the care, love, and education provided.
My oldest has loved it here since day one and has truly blossomed (socially and educationally). When we do drop off and pickup, the kids are all excited to be there. In fact, a lot of the kids have older siblings that attended NVA, which is a really good sign. All the classrooms are geared perfectly to the age group and the teachers do a phenomenal job of making learning fun. The things they learn at a young age have surpassed my expectations. Even my Mom, who has 30+years of teaching experience and advanced degrees in early education, is blown away by the learning environment here. NVA has played a BIG role in my son's development and for that I am forever thankful.
My youngest is in the infant room and the teachers are AMAZING - they could not be more kind, patient and loving. It's a true blessing to be able to drop your baby off and know that they are in a safe and nurturing environment. We were nervous about putting our baby in a bigger center, but the teachers and staff make you feel like you are the only parent and always take the time for any questions or concerns. I don't know how they do it!
All of that said, I could not recommend NVA enough. I hope this review will help you and good luck finding the right place for you and your kid!
