How we see Brighton School
How Brighton School sees itself
"Brighton is the leading private school in Toronto intentionally designed for elementary and secondary students with learning challenges. Brighton sets the standard for specialized education by using best practices, evidence-based teaching methods, and specialized remedial programs for reading decoding, reading comprehension, math, writing, and social competency development. Brighton is a warm, vibrant school with small learning groups and personal attention. Visit us in our great new renovated location!"
This information is not available.
This information is not available.
This information is not available.
This information is not available.
This information is not available.
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Kathy Lear, Executive Director
Welcome to Brighton
We have what you’ve been looking for. A warm, vibrant school community that understands elementary and secondary students with learning challenges. Learning Groups with only 3 – 6 students in each group. Caring, qualified, trained and experienced Special Ed teachers who individualize learning to meet each students’ needs. An evidence-based, best-practices curriculum that gets results. A focus on remediation, but also on ‘strengthening strengths’ so our students understand that while they have challenges, they also have gifts and abilities that make them shine.
Our ‘Balanced Day’ schedule with two well-spaced 45 minute breaks (instead of short 15 minute recesses) helps keep our students at a consistent energy and attention level throughout the day. After school clubs that allow students to experience a wide variety of different sports and arts activities, and are designed to build skills, friendships, teamwork and self-confidence. A social skills program. In-house tutoring. Speech and OT services. Dances. A large, bright gymnasium. A stage. A great playground. A parking lot. A before and after school care program. Great students and parents. Come and visit us to experience Brighton for yourself!
If you’re considering a small school for your extroverted child, make sure it offers plenty of social opportunities, including the ability to seek out and interact with different peer groups. Since smaller schools have smaller and less diverse student populations than big schools, it can sometimes be more challenging for your child to find a like-minded group of friends—friends with similar interests, values, etc.
“It’s important to look at the social makeup of the school,” says Ruth Rumack of Ruth Rumack's Learning Space. "Is there enough variety that your child will have a group that they feel connected with? Because you want to have friends that are like-minded and you want to be in a social situation where you feel honoured and respected. Variety can also be found in extracurriculars, leadership programs, and sports activities, which tend to have kids with a wide range of personalities.”
Also, make sure a school’s teaching and learning approach is suitable for your social child. “For instance, a school focusing on individual learning instead of group learning may not play into your child’s strengths,” say Ann and Karen Wolff, Toronto-based education consultants at Wolff Educational Services. “You want to make sure the social, emotional, and academic realities of the classroom are a match for your child’s personality.”
Smaller schools often have small classrooms and tight-knit communities, which can make it easier for your introverted child to come out of their shell, make friends, and feel like they belong. Since they’re less socially overwhelming, your child should find it easier to navigate their social environment. And since they’re conducive to group work, small classes often have plenty of interaction, which can help your child develop critical interpersonal skills.
Of course, small schools normally have a less diverse student population than big schools, which can sometimes make it more challenging to find a group of like-minded peers—peers with similar personalities, interests, values, etc. This makes it especially important to ask a school about its extracurricular programs, which can help your introverted child establish an intimate social circle.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Brighton School
Next steps to continue your research:
Continue researching Brighton School with OurKids.net, or visit school website.