College Diploma - Early Childhood Education (ECE1W)

The Early Childhood Education program combines theory and coursework with real experience in the field. Students will learn the importance of play in children's learning, family involvement, and curriculum design. Graduates will be qualified to work in a variety of jobs including child care centres, early learning and family centres.

Students will develop knowledge and professional skills in child development with the assistance of the diverse courses and learn about the valuable and specialized role students play in the community.

Graduates from this program will gain diverse and dynamic skills for the evolving world of childhood education. Students will be qualified to work in a range of jobs including child care centres, early learning and family centres, before and after school programs and with school boards.

This two-year Ontario College Diploma program will develop students' knowledge and professional skills in the early childhood educator's role and responsibilities. Students will have dynamic and eclectic experiences that will make them more valuable to the field of Early Childhood Education.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to: • Create learning contexts to enable, build and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families and communities that value and respect social, cultural and linguistic diversity including Indigenous peoples’ worldviews and Francophone identity • Co-create, facilitate and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children’s learning, holistic development and well-being following children’s capabilities, interests, ideas and experiences • Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families and communities in a range of early years and child care settings • Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking and healthy development and well-being • Use observation strategies to identify children’s strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources • Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities and children’s service agencies to meet legal and ethical standards of the early years sector • Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on one’s own role in early years and child care settings • Identify, report and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies and procedures • Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, interdisciplinary professionals, authorities and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services • Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators.