Horizon West families have a new option for early childhood education, and it’s more than just a new school. The Goddard School of Winter Garden – Horizon West is designed with children, families and the future of early education in mind.
Located at 4975 Lake Hamlin Trail, the school opened earlier this year and offers programs for children from 6 weeks through Pre-K, with a full-day schedule Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
One of the things that stands out about this new location is the people behind it, including Victoria, the school’s Onsite Partner. After talking with Victoria for a few minutes, it’s clear how proud she is of what they have built here in Horizon West. Stepping through the doors, you’ll instantly notice the beautifully curated decor, inspired by orange groves. Every detail has been thoughtfully executed, from the color-scheme, to the school goose that greets you at the door.
“My background in early childhood education began long before I stepped into a leadership role” says Victoria. “I spent years working directly in the classroom, primarily two’s and PreK which gave me a deep appreciation for the impact educators have during a child’s earliest years. Those experiences continue to shape the way I lead today.”
Meet Victoria
For Victoria, early childhood education isn’t simply a career, it’s a field she’s spent decades growing in. With more than 25 years in early childhood education and 15 years of leadership experience, Victoria has worked with large early learning programs, supported multi-site operations and mentored teams of educators. Her experience includes accreditation, state-funded programs, budgeting, enrollment management, staff credentialing and early childhood education standards.
“In 2026, my early childhood education journey grew with the amazing opportunity to open The Goddard School of Horizon West,” says Victoria. “Opening this school gave me the opportunity to take everything I had learned over the years and build something new, creating a culture, developing a leadership team, supporting educators, welcoming families, and establishing a school community from the very beginning.”
At the heart of her approach is something that can be easy to overlook when talking about preschool: the whole child.
Victoria believes children need learning environments that nurture them socially, emotionally, physically and academically. That philosophy carries into the way she works with the school’s teachers and staff, helping create an environment where children can feel safe, supported and excited to learn.
And for parents, having an experienced early childhood leader involved in the day-to-day operation of a school can make a big difference.
“Throughout my time with Goddard, one thing has remained constant: I believe exceptional schools are built through relationships. Children deserve a place where they feel safe, loved, challenged, and excited to learn. Teachers deserve leaders who believe in them, invest in their growth, and recognize the importance of the work they do. And families deserve to know that when they leave their children with us, they are leaving them with people who genuinely care.” – Victoria, Onsite Partner at The Goddard School of Winter Garden – Horizon West
A New Kind of Campus for Horizon West
The new Horizon West Goddard School was designed to feel like more than a traditional childcare center. The owners, Shawn and Pam, have been involved with Goddard Schools for more than 25 years and opened their first Winter Garden location in 2019. According to the school, their experience helped shape the new Horizon West campus and allowed them to incorporate features they wanted to see in an early learning environment.
One of the biggest differences is the outdoor space.
The campus features six separate secure playgrounds, each designed with specialized surfacing and different opportunities for children to spend time outdoors. The outdoor space includes lots of shade cover, misting fans and a water bottle refill station. There is separate, age-specific playground equipment, gardening areas and a basketball quart with child-size hoops.
Inside, the school offers dedicated spaces and enrichment opportunities including an art studio, dramatic arts space, child learning kitchen, basketball court, outdoor classroom, engineering, robotics, music appreciation, American Sign Language, secondary languages and physical fitness.
The goal isn’t simply to keep little ones busy during the day. The environment is designed to encourage curiosity, exploration and hands-on learning.
Learning Through Curiosity
The Goddard School’s educational program, Wonder of Learning®, is built around children’s natural curiosity and is designed to support whole-child development. Teachers create personalized learning experiences while encouraging children to explore, discover and build confidence.
That approach continues through the different age-based programs offered at the Horizon West campus:
- Infants: 6 weeks–12 months
- Toddlers: 12–24 months
- Twos: 2–3 years
- Bridge: 2.5–3.5 years
- Preschool: 3–4 years
- Pre-K: 4–5 years
Each classroom is designed around the developmental stage of the children who spend their days there, from those first early discoveries to the skills and confidence needed for kindergarten.
Come Take a Look
If you’re a Horizon West family looking for an early learning program, The Goddard School is currently welcoming families to learn more and schedule a tour. The school is located at 4975 Lake Hamlin Trail, Winter Garden, FL 34787, and can be reached at 407-605-3003.
You can learn more about the school and its programs through The Goddard School of Winter Garden – Horizon West.
For Horizon West families, a new school means a new place for little ones to learn, play, make friends and grow — right here in our own backyard.
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