Bridge The Gap
Part-Time Private School at Oak LearnersJK – Grade 6 | 2–3 Days Per Week | Individualized Programs
Part Time
Outdoor Education
Learning Exceptionalities
Experiential Learning
Small Classes 6:1
STEAM
Not Every Child Fits a One-Size-Fits-All System
At Oak Learners, we believe that every child is a capable, curious learner who deserves an education built around who they are, not who the system expects them to be. Sometimes, the path to thriving in school isn’t a straight line. It meanders, doubles back, and asks for a little more patience and creativity than the traditional school experience can offer.
That’s exactly what Bridge the Gap was designed for.
What Is Bridge the Gap?
Bridge the Gap is Oak Learners’ part-time private school enrollment option for students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 6. Students attend two or three days per week alongside our full-time school community, participating in the same rich, inquiry-based programming that defines the Oak Learners experience.
Unlike a tutoring program or a drop-in enrichment class, Bridge the Gap is a genuine part-time school placement. Students are enrolled members of our learning community. They have a consistent schedule, a dedicated teacher who knows them well, and a personalized learning plan crafted in collaboration with their family.
During the intake process, our Principal works directly with the student, their family, and any outside educators or specialists to design an individualized program that complements the rest of their week, whether that’s a home learning environment, a public school schedule, or a combination of support services.
Who Is Bridge the Gap For?
Bridge the Gap was built for families who are navigating transitions, challenges or simply looking for something more than the standard school model provides. You might be in the right place if:
You’re a Homeschooling Family
Many homeschooling families arrive at a point where their child is curious about what school looks like but are not ready to leap into a full five-day week. Bridge the Gap gives homeschooled children a gentle on-ramp: a real school experience, two or three days at a time, in a small and supportive environment where they can find their footing without feeling overwhelmed.
Your Child is Supplementing a Public or Private School Program
Public school classrooms are large, busy, and built around averages. If your child learns differently, moves at a different pace, or simply needs more hands-on, project-based engagement than their current school can provide, Bridge the Gap can fill that gap. Students attend Oak Learners on designated days and return to their school for the rest of the week, enriched and supported.
Your Child Experiences School Anxiety or School Refusal
For children who find the sensory, social, or academic demands of a full school day overwhelming, a gradual return to a structured learning environment can make all the difference. Bridge the Gap offers a low-pressure, relationship-first setting where anxious learners can rebuild confidence at a pace that works for them. Our small class sizes (6:1 ratio), consistent routines, and caring educators create the kind of safety that allows children to open up and flourish.
Your Child Has Learning Exceptionalities or Unique Educational Needs
We have extensive experience supporting children with learning differences, including giftedness, twice-exceptionality, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning needs. Bridge the Gap allows us to build a program with your child’s specific profile in mind, strengthening and making school feel like a place where they belong.
How Bridge the Gap Works
Step 1: Intake & Getting to Know Your Child
Every Bridge the Gap journey begins with a conversation. Our Principal meets with your family (and where appropriate, your child) to understand your child’s learning history, strengths, challenges, goals, and current educational context. We also connect with any outside teachers, therapists, or specialists involved in your child’s care.
This intake process isn’t just paperwork — it’s the foundation of everything that follows.
Step 2: Designing Your Child’s Individual Program
Using what we’ve learned in the intake, we build a customized program plan. This outlines what your child will work on at Oak Learners, how their days will be structured, and how our program will dovetail with the rest of their educational week. The plan is a living document — it evolves as your child grows and their needs change.
Step 3: Joining the Community
Bridge the Gap students aren’t visitors — they are full members of the Oak Learners community on the days they attend. They participate in morning meetings, outdoor learning, project-based inquiry, arts programming, and collaborative work alongside their peers. Friendships form. Confidence builds. Learning happens.
Step 4: Ongoing Communication & Collaboration
We believe deeply in the power of a strong family-school partnership. Families receive regular updates on their child’s progress, and our educators are always available to connect. If your child is also enrolled at another school, we maintain open communication with those educators as well to ensure a seamless and complementary experience.
What Will My Child Do at Oak Learners?
Bridge the Gap students experience the full richness of Oak Learners programming during their time with us. Our curriculum is grounded in the Ontario Curriculum while drawing inspiration from the educational philosophies of Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Waldorf, and Constructivism. Every day is active, purposeful, and child-centered.
✦ What a Bridge the Gap Day Looks Like:
Outdoor Learning: 2+ hours outdoors every day, all year round. Academic subjects like Math, Literacy, Science, and Social Studies are woven into nature-based exploration and outdoor experiences.
Project-Based Inquiry: Students identify their interests and strengths and design inquiry projects that guide their learning over a term, supported by teachers and peers.
Arts-Enriched Programming: Visual arts, music, drama, and creative expression are integrated throughout the day, not treated as add-ons.
Core Skill Development: Focused literacy and numeracy blocks tailored to each learner’s level and goals.
STEAM Exploration: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics come alive through hands-on experiments, making, and problem-solving.
Social-Emotional Learning: Our small community, consistent relationships, and restorative practices help students build confidence, resilience, and the ability to navigate the social world of school.
Why Oak Learners?
Oak Learners has spent years building an educational environment where children who don’t fit the mold don’t just survive; they thrive. Here’s what makes our approach different:
- Small class sizes (6:1 student-to-teacher ratio) mean every child is truly known by their educator.
- An alternative, inquiry-based curriculum draws on the best of Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Waldorf, and Constructivist approaches.
- 2–3 hours of daily outdoor education supports mental, emotional, and physical well-being alongside academic development.
- With deep experience with learning exceptionalities, we understand diverse learners and know how to build programs that work for them.
- A holistic, whole-child philosophy that honours the mind, body, and spirit.
- A genuine community where belonging is built intentionally from day one.
Schedule & Availability
Bridge the Gap students attend two or three days per week, following the Oak Learners school year calendar. We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate a variety of home learning and school arrangements. Current enrollment for the 2026–27 school year is open for all grade levels, JK through Grade 6.
✦ Bridge the Gap At a Glance
Program: Part-Time Private School Enrollment
Grades: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 6
Schedule: 2 or 3 days per week
Calendar: Follows the Oak Learners School Year Calendar
Location: 394 Royal York Rd., Etobicoke, ON M8Y 2R3
Phone: (416) 820-5233
Email: info@oaklearners.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child attend Bridge the Gap and also be enrolled in public school?
Yes. We work closely with families to ensure the two environments complement each other. We are happy to communicate with your child’s public school teachers with your permission.
We currently homeschool. Can Bridge the Gap help with our transition plan?
Absolutely. Bridge the Gap is ideal for homeschooling families who are beginning to explore school options. It allows children to experience a structured school community gradually, without the pressure of a full-time commitment. Many families start with two days per week and adjust from there.
My child has significant school anxiety. Is this program appropriate?
Bridge the Gap can be a wonderful fit for school-anxious children, particularly because of our small community, predictable routines, and deeply relationship-driven approach. We encourage families in this situation to reach out to setup a meeting with our Principal before applying, so we can discuss whether the fit is right and how we would support your child specifically.
What if my child needs more support than a typical student?
We have extensive experience with learning exceptionalities and are well-equipped to design individualized programs. During the intake process, we will discuss your child’s specific needs in detail and determine together how to structure their time with us.
What is the cost?
Tuition for the Bridge the Gap program is based on the number of days attended per week. Please contact us directly or complete an Intake Questionnaire to begin a conversation about enrollment and fees.
Start the Admissions Process
We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year for all Grade Levels, JK through Grade 6.
Complete an Intake Questionnaire to begin the process today!
