Exploring Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning: A Comprehensive Overview

Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning (NVA Early Learning) has been a prominent provider of educational childcare in Northern Virginia, offering families a nurturing and engaging environment for their children since 1974. With multiple locations, including three in Alexandria and one in Burke, the academy caters to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. More than just a daycare, NVA Early Learning focuses on the educational development of children and strives to provide engaging early learning experiences.

Core Values and Philosophy

The purpose of Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning is to provide a warm, nurturing center in which a child's individuality is recognized and supported by a loving and caring staff. This care includes opportunities for physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth.

NVA Early Learning strives to help each child develop emotionally, educationally, physically, and above all to enhance his or her own self-concept. The academy is committed to fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Staff and Training

NVA Early Learning is staffed with trained, enthusiastic individuals who have been selected not only for their educational backgrounds and experiences, but also for their understanding of and dedication to young children. Staff training is an ongoing process. Teachers participate in a Corporate Training Program, bi-monthly training sessions, professional workshops, and college-level courses.

The academy prides itself on employing a culturally diverse, highly trained, and caring staff. Teachers and management engage children in activities and experiences that propel them to grow and learn.

Read also: Northern Kentucky Basketball

Locations and Programs

NVA Early Learning has multiple campuses:

Alexandria, VA (Early Development Center)

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. 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.

Burke, VA

NOVA Early Learning’s Burke Campus provides caring, quality daycare in Burke, 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 the Burke Campus to offer children a safe, nurturing environment in which they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The Burke campus is Northern Virginia Academy’s largest location, offering expansive outdoor space where young learners can explore, play, and grow. Nestled in the heart of Burke, Virginia and conveniently situated just off Fairfax County Parkway, this campus provides easy access for commuting families.

Programs Offered

NVA Early Learning offers a variety of programs tailored to different age groups:

Infant Care: The 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.

Read also: The Story of UNI Panthers Football
Toddler Care: The 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.
Two-Year-Old Program: The 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.
Preschool (3-Year-Olds): Designed to develop a natural and life long excitement for learning, our three-year-old students learn how to build early writing and literacy skills, engage in concrete mathematical experiences and learn how to make friends. This is done as the children listen to stories, re-tell events, and perform dramatic play with puppets and props. Hands-on activities provide opportunities for exploration of concepts such as classification, serration, spatial relationships and numbers.
Preschool (4-Year-Olds): In this program, your four-year-old child explores concepts in reading, math, and science as we continue to promote language and physical development. This hands-on approach to learning new skills is introduced through daily stories and games that teach your child math concepts, the alphabet, and phonic awareness. Our science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum incorporates teaching methods that respect children’s natural learning process.
Junior Kindergarten: The Junior Kindergarten program, offered in Ashburn and Burke, bridges the gap between preschool and kindergarten for children turning five after September 30. With a focus on early reading, writing, independence, and school readiness, children build confidence in a structured, engaging classroom environment designed to support their continued developmental growth.

Read also: Northern Arizona University Tuition
Montessori (Burke, VA): The Montessori program is designed to assist children to develop their potential in a warm and nurturing environment. This educational practice embraces individualized instruction for mixed age groupings of students. Children will utilize the Montessori equipment and curriculum to develop important life skills. Children also learn Spanish vocabulary words through songs and games. This program encourages children to explore their world through learning, to express themselves, think independently and play cooperatively.
Before and After School Program (Burke, VA): The Before and After School Program is offered at the Burke Campus and is open to children ages five to twelve who attend elementary schools in the vicinity of this campus. Afternoon snacks are provided to all children. The program presents a variety of activities to meet the child’s needs: outdoor play, table games, cooking activities, quiet time, arts and crafts and a supervised homework period.
Summer Camp (Burke, VA): Summer Camp at Northern Virginia Academy offers a fun, safe, and enriching environment for children from the end of the school year through August, with field trips, outdoor play, and exciting themed activities.

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. The academy’s programs, curriculum, classrooms, play areas, toys, and learning materials cater to a variety of ages and developmental stages.

Key Personnel

District Director: Shareese Ladd holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Liberty University and a Master’s degree from Capella University in Early Childhood Education. She has been in the childcare field for more than 18 years, 12 of them at Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning. Her 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.
Program Director (Burke): Rhiannon Criscuolo has been a part of the Northern Virginia Academy family for more than 15 years. As a parent herself, she understands that the children spend most of their day in their care and that it is important that parents feel comfortable and can go to work knowing that their child is safe, happy, and loved so much.
Assistant Director (Burke): Yuris Sanchez

Parent Reviews and Testimonials

Parents consistently express high satisfaction with Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning. They praise the caring and loving staff, the well-rounded curriculum, and the safe and nurturing environment.

One parent mentioned that NVA has surpassed their expectations for caring and teaching their 4-year-old son. The director, assistant director, and teachers are knowledgeable, organized, and caring, and they are truly dedicated to providing a safe and loving learning environment for littles.
Another parent with experience at NVA Landsdowne, having had kids in various classes, was thoroughly impressed with the care, love, and education provided. They noted that their oldest child blossomed socially and educationally and that the classrooms are geared perfectly to the age group.
A parent of an infant praised the teachers in the infant room for being kind, patient, and loving, creating a safe and nurturing environment.
Parents also appreciate the cleanliness and safety of the facility, as well as the responsive and committed administrators and teachers.

These testimonials highlight the positive impact that Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning has on children and families in the Northern Virginia area.

Additional Information

School Type: Early Childhood / Day Care
Grades: Prekindergarten-Kindergarten
Enrollment: 142 students (as per NCES data)
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Licensing: NVA Early Learning is a state-licensed Private Day School that meets and exceeds the regulations established by the Virginia Department of Social Services and the local fire and health departments.
The average private school tuition in Fairfax County, VA is $18,603 for elementary schools and $23,233 for high schools. The average acceptance rate in Fairfax County, VA is 78%.

tags: #northern #virginia #academy #of #early #learning