Program Overview
This program will expand upon the skills gained through the Early Childhood Education basic program by providing the students with comprehensive knowledge of inclusive practice.
There are a range of child, youth, and family focused support programs and interventions in BC to help promote children’s healthy development, maximize quality of life, assist families in their role as primary caregivers and support full participation in community life.
This program provides advanced training in ECE competencies for individuals interested in working with Children with Exceptionalities and/or Infant and Toddler care and qualifies educators for the SN certification to practice from the ECE Registry.
Career Opportunities
- Special Needs Educator
- Manager/Coordinator in Inclusive Early Learning Settings
- Supported Child Care Consultant
Learning Objectives
At the end of this program the student will have developed a broad range of skills through the application and understanding of the following learning outcomes:
- Cultural, economic, and generational influences on typical and atypical development 0-6.
- Main categories and methods of observational recording
- Current licensing and registration regulations, development of policies and procedures, floor plans, and childcare center design focused on inclusive practice.
- Development of partnerships with parents, colleagues, and other service providers
- Positive contemporary child guidance practices, causes and characteristics of inappropriate behaviour focused on inclusive practice.
- Planning and implementing comprehensive program plans, focusing on social, emotional, cognitive, physical, language and cultural developmental diversity.
- Activities to facilitate diversity and multi-cultural experiences and concepts to enhance curriculum reflecting inclusive
practice. - Creating a positive learning environment that includes stimulating and engaging music and movement activities, enhancing
other learning such as language and language skills. - The use of concepts and activities from LEAP BC 2010 Resource Booklet and recognizing movement categories and motor
skills - Creativity and open-ended, process-oriented creative art activities and experiences.
- Verbal and non-verbal communication skills and techniques.
- Design newsletters and communication tools for parents, children and staff.
- Signs and symptoms of common communicable childhood illnesses focused on atypical development.
- Goal setting, note taking, problem solving, and team work.
Why Study Early Childhood Special Education At Sprott Shaw?
- Lifetime access to dedicated Employment Services Specialists (ESS) who can help you with resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, and the overall job search after graduation
- Lifetime tuition-free access to course refreshers if you ever need to retrain and update your skills
- Practicum opportunities with recognized organizations across BC
- Multiple start dates so you can start your education when you want to without the wait
- Career and professional development success courses to help create a career development marketing plan, learn the cardinal rules of professionalism, and identify the target markets and employment resources in the counselling field
- Preparation and orientation courses to teach you how to find credible research, write papers, create proper citation formats including APA, and study effectively for exams
- All-inclusive program costs where what you see is what you pay. Our costs include registration fees, assessment fees, tuition, textbooks, supplies, course materials, uniforms, certificates, graduation fees, practicum fees, and much more
- Grant and scholarship opportunities are available to help you save on tuition. Up to $4000 in scholarships and grants are open to recent high school graduates, Sprott Shaw alumni, military veterans, and more! Click here to browse our full list of grants and scholarships.
Where Are Sprott Shaw Graduates Working?
Our Early Childhood, Education, and Support graduates can be found working throughout the province. In addition to school districts across BC, our Early Childhood Education and Education Assistant graduates can be found working at daycares and preschools such as CEFA Early Learning and the Boys and Girls Club.
Community Support Workers and Mental Health and Addiction workers can be found working in women’s shelters, mental health and addiction recovery facilities, homeless shelters, and more.
Click below to learn more about where our graduates are currently working. Please note that these lists do not cover every single business that has hired a Sprott Shaw graduate, but they do provide a good representation of the sort of industries that Sprott Shaw graduates are working in.
Program Details
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must meet all of the pre-requisites listed below, meet their financial obligations to the college at registration, and acknowledge their understanding of SSC’s policies and procedures provided in the Student Handbook, prior to starting classes.
NOTE: Students are provided with a detailed list of books, e-resources, workshop/lab supplies, and lab/tool kits that are included in the program’s fees and will have the opportunity to opt in or out of purchasing from Sprott Shaw College or any other specific source any of these items at the time of registration.
Preference will be given to those who can provide letters of reference detailing volunteer or professional experience working with children indicating their suitability for working in the field of Early Childhood Education.
- Successful Completion of a Basic ECE Program Recognized by the BC ECE Registry, with transcripts obtained, in accordance with Section 26b of the BC Child Care Licensing Regulation
- Applicants must successfully complete the admissions interview
Education Level (one of the following)
* Grade 12 or equivalent (GED, Adult Basic Education) with evidence of a ‘true certified copy’ or original transcript
* Mature student status (age 19 and one year out of high school)
Language Proficiency Requirements
Successful Completion of a Basic ECE Program Recognized by the BC ECE Registry, with transcripts obtained, in accordance with the Section 26b of BC Child Care Licensing Regulation
OR
Applicants who cannot provide evidence of the above must meet the following language proficiency requirement:
1. EDUCATION
a) Secondary Education.
Evidence of Successful Fulltime Secondary Education Completion*, where English is one of the principal languages of instruction:
- i) Showing two (2) years, if all Grades successfully completed are 10, 11, or 12, or
- ii) Showing three (3) years if the successful Grades are 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12
- iii) Showing validation of both language of instruction and credential level is provided by WES, ICES or IQAS
OR
b) Post- Secondary Education
Evidence of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education*, where English is one of the principal languages of instruction. Language development courses (i.e. ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation.
* This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program or providing validation of both language of instruction and credential level is provided by WES, ICES or IQAS.
Countries where English is the language of instruction: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, United States Virgin Islands, Zambia, & Zimbabwe
OR
2. ASSESSMENT
By achieving a recognized standardized language test/assessment. The approved English language assessment options:
* IELTS. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: Minimum overall score of 5.5.
* TOEFL. Test of English as a Foreign Language IBT: Minimum overall score of 46
* CAEL. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment. Minimum overall score of 40
* CELPIP. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program: Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5.
* DET. Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 95
* PTE. Pearson Test of English Academic: Minimum overall score of 43
* Cambridge English Qualifications: Minimum overall score of 160 or “C”
* Cambridge Linguaskill: Minimum overall B2 level
* LANGUAGECERT Academic: Minimum overall B2 level
* MET. The Michigan English Test: Minimum overall B2 level
* iTEP Academic: Minimum overall score of 3.5
* EIKEN: Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1
OR
3. ACCUPLACER
For mature candidates who are facing barriers and cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education. Accuplacer English
Assessment (Next Generation), required minimum scores:
* Reading: 230
* Writing: 230
* WritePlacer: 4
Candidate must be 19 years or older at the start of the program and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In addition to achieving the aforementioned Accuplacer scores, the candidate is required to provide attestation affirming completion of at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary English instruction in a country where English is one of the principal languages (please refer to Countries where English is the language of instruction).
Health Requirement (one of the following)
* Student Health Declaration form
* Physician’s waiver
Other Requirements (less than 3 months before starting classes)
- Excellent communication skills (written composition)
- Signed medical/criminal waiver
- The Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) screens people who work with children or vulnerable adults (students must complete no more than 3 months before the program start date).
- Provide evidence of full COVID-19 vaccination OR a signed vaccination waiver on file
Practice Education Requirement
Please note that certain facilities may require proof of a negative TB test. Without this documentation on the student file, it may limit practicum placement opportunities.
Certificate Requirements
70% average upon successful completion of all courses, including courses given a complete.
Before a Certificate to Practice is issued in a Post-Basic specialty, an applicant must first be certified as an Early Childhood Educator in British Columbia with the ECE Registry. An Early Childhood Educator wishing to receive a certificate in either Infant/Toddler Post-Basic Education and/or Children with Exceptionalities Post-Basic Education should submit a current application form to the ECE Registry with the Ministry of Education and Child Care and include an official transcript of the relevant courses completed, issued by Sprott Shaw College (photocopies not accepted).
A Post-Basic diploma from Sprott Shaw College is given upon successful completion of the following:
• Basic Early Childhood Education Certificate program
• Post-Basic – Infant/Toddler Educator Certificate program
• Post-Basic – Children with Exceptionalities Educator Certificate program
Note: Child Care sites may require more current and/or additional CRC (for instance, RCMP) and/or other immunizations (to be done at the student’s expense) before practicum and/or observing. Students are responsible for their transportation. All three practicum sites are subject to availability. A minimum of two different practicum locations is required.
Practicum training may be conducted in shifts to accommodate placement facilities’ needs (such as 8-hour shifts). Necessary Ministry licensing requirements will be included in the curriculum and scheduled throughout the program. Students can expect to complete 1 – 3 hours of homework per day.
Contact Us Today!
Our advisors are happy to answer any questions.
Courses List
This 20 week Certificate program requires the student to complete the following courses.- Creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for infants/toddlers as well as children who require additional supports
- Review of comprehensive knowledge of the range of historic and current theoretical approaches to child growth and development
- A comprehensive overview of the competent development, implementation and maintenance of all policies and procedures for the administration, funding, government policy and advocacy areas of managing childcare settings and services
- A thorough presentation of the importance of parent, school, and community collaboration and increased knowledge of and respect for cultural, socioeconomic and family diversity
- The study of exceptionality (special education and supported childcare)
- Neurological disabilities, special health care needs, severe and multiple Disabilities, pervasive disorders and visual and hearing impairments
- Plan accessible, inclusive indoor and outdoor play environments
- Develop positive approaches for guiding, caring and interacting with children with challenging behaviours
- The study of exceptionality (special education and supported childcare)
- Neurological disabilities, special health care needs, severe and multiple disabilities, pervasive disorders and visual and hearing impairments
- Plan accessible, inclusive indoor and outdoor play environments
- Develop positive approaches for guiding, caring and interacting with children with challenging behaviours
- 4-week practicum (includes Touch Back Lab)
- Observe, monitor and record each child's developmental progress
- Create and maintain a safe and healthy environment
- Plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs and activities for children who require additional supports
- Promote and understand inclusion
- Use specialized equipment, adaptations and materials as needed and/or prescribed
