What are the school hours?
Students attend classes from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with scheduled breaks including a 15-minute morning break, 30-minute lunch period and a 30-minute recess.
Our Educational Programs
The Lighthouse Learning and Development Centre, York Region’s first registered school for autism where we believe that all students have the potential to learn. By combining the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis with the Ontario Curriculum, The Lighthouse gives students with autism the opportunity to access their true academic potential.
The Lighthouse Learning and Development Center is a Ministry Inspected private school for individuals with autism. At the Lighthouse, each student has an Individual Learning Plan that is created by the teaching team with input from the family, based on the initial academic and behavioral assessments, and is updated as the students grow and change.
The Kindergarten program at the Lighthouse is designed to provide young students with a robust foundation for literacy, numeracy, communication and self-regulation. Delivered in a structured, hands-on learning environment, the program focuses on the holistic development of each student. Students are encouraged to explore, investigate and develop critical thinking and creativity. Alongside academic learning, the program emphasizes social emotional skills, and community engagement. The program also utilizes direct instruction and is led by an Ontario Certified Teacher and supported by Instructor Therapists. The kindergarten program ensures that students are well-prepared for a smooth transition into Grade 1.
The Primary Program at The Lighthouse supports students learning at the Grade 1 to 3 levels. This program focuses on building foundational learning skills and fostering a strong understanding of the Ontario Curriculum for Grades 1–3 through direct instruction and Ministry-approved resources. In addition to academic development, students gain essential community-based life skills and begin strengthening their executive functioning abilities. The program is thoughtfully designed to equip students with the skills and confidence needed to transition successfully to Grade 4 and beyond.
The Junior Program at The Lighthouse supports students learning at the Grade 4 to 6 levels. This program emphasizes the Ontario Curriculum for these grades, with a strong focus on developing reading comprehension and writing skills. Students engage in direct instruction, social-emotional learning, and functional community skills, alongside core academic subjects and are encouraged to express their creativity, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and build self-advocacy skills. The program is designed to prepare students for a confident and successful transition to Grades 7 and 8.
The Intermediate program is designed to prepare students in Grades 7 and 8 for high school. It emphasizes the development of self-advocacy and self-regulation skills while also building a solid academic foundation in reading comprehension writing and numeracy. Students are encouraged to think critically, engage in STEM activities and develop real world digital skills, all which follow the Grade 7 & 8 Ontario curriculum. The Lighthouse acknowledges that the transition from elementary to high school can be challenging and strives to equip students with the skills and confidence they need for this important transition starting in Grade 7.
What are the school hours?
Students attend classes from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with scheduled breaks including a 15-minute morning break, 30-minute lunch period and a 30-minute recess.
Do you follow the Ontario Curriculum?
Yes, as a Ministry Inspected school, we abide by the policies set by the Ministry of Education which includes following the Ontario Curriculum.
What can I expect from the academic assessment?
The academic assessment consists of a literacy and numeracy evaluation, along with a classroom trial. The assessment includes behavioral observations, communication and problem solving ability. The assessment can be completed in one to three sessions, depending on the student’s age and academic proficiency. These sessions may be scheduled for either a half day or a full day.
How many students and teachers are in a class?
At the Lighthouse, each classroom is limited to a maximum of 6 students, with the level of support tailored to each student’s age, academic proficiency and behavioral needs. Younger classrooms generally feature an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) accompanied by two Instructor Therapist for classroom support. In contrast, older classrooms may have one OCT teacher and between one or two Instructor Therapist, contingent upon the students’ level of independence.
What experience do the staff members have?
All teachers at the Lighthouse are either Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT) in good standing or possess over five years of teaching experience in a school setting. Every staff member is trained in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and may hold a degree in Psychology or have completed courses or additional qualifications in teaching students with autism, other neurodiversities, learning disabilities, and anxiety.
Do you offer Social Emotional Learning?
Yes, in the Elementary Program students work on a variety of Social Emotional Learning. We use resources like Social Thinking, AIM, MooZoom and the Zones of Regulation to name a few.
What is Direct Instruction?
Direct Instruction employs explicit teaching techniques to impart specific skills to students. At The Lighthouse, we incorporate both Language for Learning and Reasoning and Writing in our elementary program to teach vocabulary, concepts, sentence structures, and both written and spoken expression. Direct instruction can aid in the development of higher order thinking skills in students.
What “Ministry Inspected” means & why it matters.
“Ministry Inspected” signifies that the Ministry of Education conducts inspections of the Lighthouse to ensure compliance with Ministry policies. The Lighthouse’s BSID number is 884612, acknowledging it as a Ministry Inspected school.
It is important to note that not all private schools are Ministry Inspected. Schools meeting the “Ministry Inspected” criteria are authorized to grant credits towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). This ensures that course credits are recognized by other secondary schools, colleges and universities within Ontario. Additionally, Ministry Inspected schools are able to hold and upkeep Ontario Student Record (OSR) files.
What types of assessments are completed for students in Elementary?
In addition to the academic (numeracy and literacy) assessment, students may also complete the PEAK Assessment or VB-Mapp Assessment to help identify overall learning goals.
Our intake process at the Lighthouse is designed to be welcoming and thorough, ensuring that each student’s unique needs and goals are carefully assessed to create a personalized learning plan that fosters growth and success.
01 Inquiry
Prospective families are encouraged to inquire about the school and book a tour to visit the school through The Lighthouse website.
02 Information Gathering
During the school tour, prospective families will sit with the Director of Education to learn more about the school programming, policies, procedures and fees. This is also an opportunity for parents to express their goals, values and expectations.
03 Academic Assessment
Prospective families will book an appointment for their child to come to the Lighthouse and complete an academic assessment. The academic assessment evaluates the child’s academic abilities, behavior and social skills. This helps determine which classroom placement can meet the student’s educational needs.
04 Classroom Trial
During the academic assessment, prospective students are also integrated into a potential classroom to determine if the classroom is a good fit for the student’s overall academic and social learning.
05 Assessment Summary
Once the academic assessment and classroom trial have been completed, prospective families will receive a summary of the assessment conducted as well as a list of programming recommendations.
06 Decision & Enrollment
After reviewing the assessment summary, prospective families will notify the Lighthouse of their enrollment decision. The Director of Education will then send the families all the necessary registration forms, fees and any additional documents to complete the enrollment process.
At the Lighthouse, we believe that curriculum linked field trips are vital for students as they provide real world context to classroom learning. These experiences engage students in hands-on activities that enhance their understanding of subjects like science, social studies and the arts. Field trips also foster social skills, independence, and a broader perspective of the world, enriching their overall educational experience.
In addition to curriculum linked field trips, the students at the Lighthouse also participate in community based field trips like visiting the library, going on restaurant lunches or shopping. These outings offer students practical and structured opportunities to practice coping strategies, valuable life skills and how to navigate within their community with confidence.
Supporting students in achieving the OSSD in a small teacher-to-student ratio.
Learn MoreOur OT services are specifically geared towards enabling participation in the school environment.
Learn MoreWe implement programs that are deeply rooted in evidence-based practices like ABA and Natural Environment Teaching.
Learn MoreThe Lighthouse Learning and Development Centre is an approved Direct Funding Option under the Ontario Autism Program.
Learn MoreWe welcome visits from parents and children at The Lighthouse seeking the proper foundation for their future. Our staff will gladly show you around and answer any questions you have about our school and support for students.
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