Preschool, Daycare

& Early Learning

in Alexandria and Lorton, VA

High-quality daycare, preschool, Pre-K, and infant care programs serving families in Del Ray, Old Town Alexandria, and Lorton. Safe, nurturing classrooms, experienced teachers, play-based learning, and flexible care options for children from infancy through kindergarten readiness.

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A nurturing and safe place for your child to grow and explore!

Why Families Choose The Nest Academy

At The Nest Academy, we provide more than childcare. We create a safe, supportive environment where children learn, explore, and build confidence every day. Our programs are designed to support children's academic, social, emotional, and physical development through play-based learning and positive teacher guidance.

✓ Licensed daycare and preschool

✓ Infant, toddler, preschool, and Pre-K programs

✓ Experienced and caring educators

✓ Play-based learning curriculum

✓ Kindergarten readiness focus

✓ Convenient Alexandria and Lorton locations

We proudly serve families from Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray, Rosemont, Potomac Yard, Carlyle, Eisenhower East, and surrounding Alexandria neighborhoods.

Child Care Programs for Every Stage

A baby with light skin and blonde hair, lying on a bed with a colorful patterned blanket, partially covered with a purple and white towel over their head, looking directly at the camera with wide blue eyes and an open mouth.

Nursery

Our preschool/daycare center provides a safe and nurturing environment in which each baby can happily grow and develop.

A young child with light skin and brown hair playing on a black and white striped rug in a room filled with toys. The child is reaching for a game with colorful pieces. In the background, there is a white bookshelf with toys and a pink toy car on the floor.

Toddler Daycare

Our Toddler program focuses on individual abilities and needs of the children. We do not expect from our toddlers to develop their physical, mental and emotional abilities at the same pace.

A young girl with dark hair in a ponytail wearing a pink long-sleeve shirt, sitting at a desk doing homework or activities. The desk is cluttered with colorful folders, a red basket with supplies, and a yellow basket with a doll. The background has a wooden wall with various stickers and a white shelf holding notebooks and tissues.

Preschool

We believe that play like no other activity helps promote the social, physical and emotional development of our children.

Children playing outside on a playground with a green climbing wall and a slide, surrounded by a black fence and fallen leaves on the ground.

Pre-Kindergarten

Rooted in early childhood education best practices, we focus on fostering curiosity, independence, and foundational skills that prepare children for lifelong learning

Two young boys playing with colorful magnetic building blocks at a small wooden table in a festively decorated room.

We believe that children learn best through exploration, creativity, and meaningful relationships — and that’s exactly what we provide.

Kindergarten

Learn more about Our Programs

Our Exciting News!

The Nest Academy Learning Preschool has been recognized as providing exceptional child care to our families by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NECPA).

We made it through their challenging accreditation system, passed all the standards and here we are! A high-quality preschool!

Badge for an accredited program awarded by the NCFPA Commission, Inc., with a stylized figure of a person with three leaf-like shapes representing growth or development, encircled by text that reads 'Awarded by the NCFPA Commission, Inc. Excellence in Early Childhood Education.'

Simple black and blue line drawing of a spaceship with a rocket engine and wings.

Positive Pedagogy

Smiling young boy wearing a gray hoodie and blue shorts sitting on a see-saw outdoors in a park.

We provide a tremendous educational experience for students through an engaging STREAM academic program coupled with proven teaching techniques, founded on the basis of our philosophy that carries the belief in positive pedagogy combined with positive discipline.

This model helps young children develop through its five core elements:

Positive emotions
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning
Accomplishment

Positive pedagogy teaches skills that help with dealing with stress, building strong relationships, improving confidence, and developing balanced thinking along with a healthy lifestyle. By acquiring these skills, children gain tools to become successful, both in their academic and personal lives.

You can count on quality, character-building content from The Nest Academy.

We simply help unlock each child’s potential for learning.

Because of The Nest Academy’s track record of success, extensive research and development process, you can trust us to help your children develop their self-esteem and achieve their full potential.