The Vancouver Learning Centre
is the "Village" it takes
to get the very best outcome
for each learner.
The VLC is a Learning Centre, not a school. Click here for clarity.

The VLC is not a school but a Specialist Learning Centre. The VLC delivers a team-based process. A teaching captain is assigned to oversee the program delivery and to be the main contact with the parents who then become an integrated part of the team. Schools can then be involved as appropriate.

In the case of home schooling, the curriculum, homework tasks, testing, and the program to earn credentials and provide oversight to the curriculum is up to the distance education school. This becomes the learner’s school and the VLC will work collaboratively with the school’s contact person and will actively address all IEPs or special needs developed by that school.

Whether the student attends on site at VLC and remains as part of a class or works with a distance education school, the VLC becomes the specialist provider of one to one teaching based on the special needs of the learner in collaboration with the learner’s parents and the contact person assigned by the school.

The Vancouver Learning Centre
is the "Village" it takes
to get the very best outcome
for each learner.
The VLC is a Learning Centre, not a school. See here for clarity.
Dr. Schwartz here...

Parents Advisory

Early Childhood Enrichment for Gifted Children Showing Advanced Development (Aged 3 to 8)

Note: For children 6 to 12 seeGiftedness, Advanced Achievement.

Children develop skills at various rates. While most young learners are bright, curious, and eager to learn, some display accelerated development, often remarkable even when accompanied by learning disabilities or conditions like autism ...


Children develop skills at various rates. While most young learners are bright, curious, and eager to learn, some display accelerated development, often remarkable even when accompanied by learning disabilities or conditions like autism. Recognizing and nurturing this early development is essential, as it often signals exceptional potential. Without adequate support, these children may experience distress or anxiety.

For children aged 3-5 who learn outside a structured classroom environment, there is often an opportunity to progress at their own pace. These children may acquire skills beyond those of their kindergarten peers, explore interests passionately, and develop a readiness to thrive in school. However, when children accustomed to learning freely enter a traditional classroom, they may face challenges adjusting to standardized instruction. For them, topics may feel repetitive or unengaging, potentially dampening their enthusiasm for learning and even for school.

Signs to look for:

  • Advanced Development in Young Children
  • Advanced language skills or fluency in multiple language
  • Proficiency in foundational skills, such as reading, writing, or math
  • Intense curiosity or passion for learning in specific areas
  • Interest in puzzles, complex systems, or problem-solving
  • Talent in music, arts, or sports
  • Exceptional personal awareness, emotional intelligence, or social skills

Challenges for Advanced Learners in a Traditional Classroom Setting:

  1. Lack of Engagement: School may feel boring, leading some children to resist attending or disengage through daydreaming or misbehaviour.
  2. Limited Challenge: Without appropriately challenging material, they might not learn to work through difficulties, a skill crucial for future learning and personal growth.

Over time, these issues can hinder social adjustment and the development of essential social and emotional skills needed to thrive.
The VLC programs take all these factors into consideration, ensuring young learners are positively prepared for kindergarten and equipped with opportunities for challenge.

VLC Early Childhood Enrichment Programs include:

  1. Primary-Level World View
  2. Foundational Cognitive Skills at Advanced Levels
  3. Memory Development
    • Auditory memory, listening skills and attention
    • Visual memory, attention to detail, drawing and writing
  4. Advanced Academic Skills (as appropriate)
    • Number Knowledge
      • Early math skills, quantitative reasoning, and problem-solving at primary levels
  5. Reading and Reading Comprehension
  6. Advanced English Language Development
  7. Emotional, Social, and Behavioral Skills (as needed)
  8. Early Executive Functioning Skills
    • Organizing agendas, managing time, etc.
  9. Preparation for Kindergarten

Young learners are encouraged to build upon their strengths, often through storytelling and interactive activities.

The Vancouver Learning Centre also offers Early Giftedness Programs with the need to develop the skills learned in school.

VLC learners do not need a formal assessment to get an individual program design and lessons at the VLC, however, if it exists we will use it to design the program.

If you do proceed with an assessment, the following information would be useful:

  1. Seek a psychologist with experience in assessing young children. The British Columbia Psychological Association (BCPA) offers a referral system.
  2. The following assessments can be particularly helpful:
    • Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
    • Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale for Early Childhood
    • Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
    • Boehm Test of Basic Concepts or Slater Test for visual-motor skills

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