Education Programs

Learning Centres - Elementary, Secondary

St. Leonard’s Community Services provides day treatment classrooms.  The agency refers to these programs as Learning Centres.  Learning Centres are offered in partnership with the Grand Erie District School Board and are available at a number of locations throughout Brantford and in Jarvis, Ontario.

The Learning Centres are designed to ensure that the curriculum and environment are provided in a manner appropriate to the chronological ages, development levels and individuals referred. A range of academic, educational and/or work activities are offered, appropriate to the learning style and achievement level of the children and youth in the program. 

Upon admission to the Learning Centre classroom, an individualized educational treatment plan is developed with the client to address difficulties, assess and remediate academic concerns.  For residential  clients, this  plan is included in the overall treatment plan.  The Learning Centre staff are part of the multidisciplinary process, planning, monitoring and reviewing the educational treatment plan for each child/youth enrolled in the Learning Centre classroom.

Teachers and Child and Youth Workers from St. Leonard’s Community Services, staff the Learning Centres.  Child and Youth Workers also provide support for clients who are integrating back into community classroom settings following time spent in the Learning Centres.

The Learning Centres operate throughout the school year and during regular school hours.  The goals of the Learning Centres are:

To provide a therapeutic environment of treatment and education that facilitates and enhance academic progress.

• To develop, implement, evaluate and revise educational treatment plans.

• To prepare the child/youth, family and local school board for a return to a regular school setting.

• To provide support to the child/youth integrating back to community school setting.

Appropriate Referral:

Appropriate referrals include children/youth with a history of  emotional, social, legal and/or behavioural problems, which have interfered with their educational adjustment and progress.  The Learning Centre classroom is an appropriate option for children and youth who have not benefited from specialized educational interventions within the regular school system. 

Some children/youth may not be deemed appropriate as a result of presenting with a degree of intellectual or physical disabilities that would interfere with their ability to benefit from the Learning Centre classroom.  The introduction of the child/youth into the Learning Centre classroom should not interfere with the functioning of the classroom or the treatment of existing clients.

Admission Criteria:

The client, their family/legal guardian are expected to be involved in the treatment process and development of the treatment plan.  Children/youth will demonstrate an awareness of their needs and a desire to work on academic goals. 

Target Population:

Youth (aged 14 – 19) residing in the community and youth in the residential program at the Youth Resource Centre may access the classrooms at the Youth Action Centre.

Youth (aged 12- 18) residing in the open detention/open custody program at the Peter Willis Residence may access the classroom at that location.

Youth (aged 12 – 17) residing in the residential program at Varency Home may access the classroom at that site. 

Youth  (aged 12 – 17) residing in the residential programs at Roy Walsh Homes, may access the classrooms at the Addictions and Mental Health centre.  When space is available, youth in the community, may also access this classroom.

Intake Process:

Residential referrals are processed internally during the referral, intake and admission process.  Residential clients are guaranteed access to the Learning Centre classrooms.  Non-residential referrals to the Learning Centres are made to the location best suited to the needs of the client. 

Any client/parent/agency wishing to refer a youth to a Learning Centre classroom, completes a referral/application form.  An interview is scheduled with the child/youth, their parent/guardian, to review their application, followed by a community case conference in which all parties involved will determine the appropriateness of the program for the individual student referred.  If accepted, the child/youth and their parents/guardians are required to complete the student contract, agreement for service and admission documents.  A complete orientation to the Learning Centre follows.

Admissions are processed as vacancies occur.

Discharge/Termination Criteria:

• The child/youth is discharged when the youth/child, family/guardian and Learning Centre staff consider him/her able to function within and benefit from the regular community based school system.

• The child/youth may be discharged when the child, family/guardian and Learning Centre Staff identify that the child/youth is unable to benefit by remaining in the classroom.

• If the child/youth/parents/guardian parents wish to withdraw their child or are unwilling to participate in the treatment process, discharge consideration may be warranted.

Follow up

As part of the reintegration plan, on going therapeutic contact with the Learning Centre staff is offered for up to 6 months after discharge.  The duration and frequency of the follow up is identified in the discharge/termination plan.

For more information call Dawn Dawson (519) 754-4944.