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Child Care Facility ✓ Licensed

A+ Growing Academy Inc

Palmetto, FL · Manatee County
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ 2.0 (4 reviews)
800 10th Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221
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Quick Facts

Capacity
328 children
Type of Care
Full-Day Care, Half-Day / Part-Day Care, Before School, After School, Drop-in / Hourly
Subsidized Program
Participates

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Free and funded programs

Free VPK hours (Voluntary Prekindergarten)
Florida DCF / Division of Early Learning (CARES provider search), as of Sep 2026.
Accepts School Readiness (child care financial assistance; a family copay may apply)
Florida DCF / Division of Early Learning (CARES provider search), as of Sep 2026.

Taking part in a program does not mean a place is open. Call the provider to ask about current availability.

VPK: who qualifies and how to apply
Who qualifies: A child who resides in Florida and will have attained the age of 4 years on or before 1 September is eligible during that school year or the following one. The eligibility section sets no income requirement. Eligibility ends when the child is admitted to kindergarten, or on reaching age 6 by 1 February.
Cost: The state pays for the VPK programme itself; the family portal describes VPK as a free educational program for 4-year-olds. A school-year programme delivered by a private provider must comprise at least 540 instructional hours. The sources reviewed do not address what a provider may charge for care outside the VPK hours, so ask your provider about any wraparound care.
Places: Being eligible does not guarantee a place. Public schools must admit all eligible children who apply to a summer programme, but school districts may limit the number of students admitted to a school-year programme based on available space.
How to apply: Apply to your early learning coalition through the state's single point of entry, the Early Learning Family Portal. Applicants in Lake County are directed to a separate application system. Apply with Early learning coalitions, under rules set by the State Board of Education (opens in new tab)
From FreePreschool.us (opens in new tab), checked against official sources Sep 2026.
School Readiness: who qualifies and how to apply
Who qualifies: Enrolment follows a statutory priority order rather than a single income cut-off. The highest priorities are children under 13 in families receiving temporary cash assistance subject to federal work requirements, and at-risk children younger than 9. Children from birth to kindergarten age in an economically disadvantaged working family come next. 'Economically disadvantaged' means a family income that does not exceed 55 percent of the state median income.
Cost: This is a subsidy, not a free programme. Coalitions must implement a parent sliding fee scale that increases in relation to family income. Coalitions may waive the copayment for at-risk children and in defined hardship circumstances, including homelessness and while a parent takes part in a Head Start or Early Head Start programme.
Places: School readiness is not an entitlement. Coalitions enrol eligible children contingent upon the availability of funds, and if funding becomes insufficient children are disenrolled in reverse priority order.
How to apply: Apply online through the Early Learning Family Portal, the same state entry point used for VPK. Applicants in Lake County are directed to a separate application system. Apply with Early learning coalitions, under rules set by the State Board of Education (opens in new tab)
From FreePreschool.us (opens in new tab), checked against official sources Sep 2026.

About Florida's free preschool programs

Contact Information

📞 (941) 722-0797
800 10th Ave W
Palmetto, FL 34221
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✓ Licensed Child Care Facility
Active License
License Number
C12MA0124
Licensed Since
2004
Active Through
Aug 14, 2027
Issued By
Florida Department of Children & Families
Licensor
Mario Bunch
District Office
Judicial Circuit 12 <br/> 2004 43rd Avenue West <br/> Bradenton, Florida 34205

Reviews

2.0
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
4 reviews
5★
1
4★
0
3★
0
2★
0
1★
3
Anna
2022-08-16 22:13:09
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I have used this provider for more than 6 months

This would be no stars if it was an option, this daycare has the WORST director (Ms. Wanda) I have ever dealt with. I didn't qualify for ELC so I knew what I signed up for enrolling my daughter in this daycare as it wasn't my first choice but it was all we could afford. My daughter was there for almost a year and up until the last month, I truly had no complaints whatsoever until my daughter's tuition balance kept growing and growing even though we were paying. When I had questions about her tuition, the director dismissed me several times and demanded that I pay the amount shown. I respectfully declined and asked for a ledger of the money I paid. I found a mistake done on their part and wanted to go over it with the director, she did not make the time and was always in "meetings". Not to mention, $200 of my daughter's tuition money had gone missing at one point and was never given a proper explanation when or how it was found. I was also overpaying $5 of my daughter's tuition because they never adjusted it when she turned 3, I didn't mind at first because I thought that over paying would eventually build up daycare credit, yea we never saw that credit, EVER. After almost a year, if you ask me, the daycare needs some TLC, it's looking worse every day with no promise of improvement and the employees need to be paid better. It's not a good look when the director is pulling up to her p.o.s. daycare in a Range Rover.

106 out of 218 think this review is helpful Was this helpful?  Yes  No
Annoymous
2016-12-22 18:23:44
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I have used this provider for less than 6 months

This facility does not even deserve 1 star . My daughter attended A+ for about 31/2 months . She cried every morning I would drop her off and every one told me that it is normal but after the 1st month she was not only crying when I dropped her off she was clenching in fear and when I questioned it I was always told the teacher raises her voice . It even gets worse when I would go to pick her up ( I started showing up at different times ) she would be crying or face full of dried snot or tears with her her hair matted to her face when I question not just the teacher but the owner Wanda and front director Charolet they all said well she is learning to have to clean her hands and face on her own and never got a reason why she had been crying all day . ( I NEW THAT BECAUSE HER EYES WERE RED SWOLLEN AND LOOKED VERY DARK UNDER NEATH ) I could rant on and on but I hope this helps another parent no to never take your child there.

140 out of 293 think this review is helpful Was this helpful?  Yes  No
Great Preschool!!!
2014-03-11 18:39:54
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

As being a preschool teacher myself I personally didn't want my child in the same school with me. I checked out many different schools in the area and A+ is the only one that met and exceeded my standards. The teachers are very friendly and loving to the children. The owner and director always keep it professional and are willing to work with you and help you out in any way that they can. They have many festivals that always involve the families, children, staff and the community. I always recommend A+ to anyone that is looking for child care in the area. My child has learned so much since she began going there!

131 out of 279 think this review is helpful Was this helpful?  Yes  No
Parent
2012-12-18 16:43:24
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Teacher's are awesome. The owner's and director's are horrible people.I would not recomend anyone to take there kids here.

144 out of 280 think this review is helpful Was this helpful?  Yes  No

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About the Provider

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A+ Growing Academy Inc is a Child Care Facility in Palmetto FL, with a maximum capacity of 328 children. It is open Monday - Friday, 6:30AM to 6:00PM. The provider also participates in a subsidized child care program.
Additional Information: Provider First Licensed on: 8/15/04;

Hours of Operation

  • Monday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Tuesday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Wednesday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Thursday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Friday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

Inspection/Report History

Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.

Inspection Date Has Violation
2026-08-10 Yes
2025-11-19 No
2025-07-23 Yes
2024-09-16 Yes
2024-08-01 Yes
2024-04-30 No
2024-03-27 Yes
2024-01-19 No
2023-12-27 Yes
2023-05-24 Yes
2023-04-19 No
2023-03-13 Yes
2023-01-13 No
2022-03-30

If you are a provider and believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.

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