Early Childhood Education Program

This program gives the student the skills and occupational competencies necessary in the industry today based upon the Ministry for Children and Family Development approved curriculum.

The diploma program provides the content of the Basic program in addition to Infant & Toddler development, and Children with Exceptionalities, involving working with children who require extra support in childcare settings.

Students in this program will develop a broad range of skills through the study and practice of certified courses in order to develop and lead daily age-appropriate activities for children aimed to help promote social, emotional, physical, cognitive and early literacy development. Students learn to observe children and communicate professionally, when appropriate, children’s progress and/or needs with parents, other staff members and individuals involved with the child’s development.

Graduates are eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Educator license from the Ministry for Children and Family Development.

This program includes practicum placement. This experience within a workplace enables Instructional staff to observe the student in a practice situation while providing the student with the opportunity to gain direct exposure to the chosen career field.

Sprott Shaw is a member of Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia (ECEBC).

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 development
Main categories and methods of observational recording
Current licensing and registration regulations, development of policies and procedures, floor plans, and childcare center design
Development of partnerships with parents, colleagues, and other service providers
Positive contemporary child guidance practices, causes and characteristics of inappropriate behaviour
Planning and implementing comprehensive program plans, focusing on social, emotional, cognitive, physical, language and cultural development.
Activities to facilitate diversity and multi-cultural experiences and concepts to enhance the curriculum
Creating a positive learning environment that includes fun 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
Goal setting, note-taking, problem-solving, and teamwork
Interview techniques and creating an employment package

Diploma Program

Total Program Hours:

2180 Hours

Full-Time Program Length:

77 Weeks

(Includes holidays and professional days)
Program content is subject to change.

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Admission Requirements:

Grade 12 / GED or mature student status
Applicants must successfully complete the admissions interview and may be required to do an entrance assessment

Note: English level assessment will be required for international students.

Diploma Requirements:

Necessary Ministry licensing requirements will be included in the curriculum and scheduled throughout the program
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
You will also need to have an interview with an instructor/director. Excellent communication skills (composition), signing a medical/criminal waiver, providing physician’s waiver, submitting a criminal record check (must be Public Safety & Solicitor General: Schedule B), and clear testing for TB. (All must be done no more than three months before the start date of the program).

Note: English level assessment will be required for international students.

Note: Child Care sites may require more current and/or additional CRC (for instance: RCMP) TB testing and/or other immunizations (to be done at student’s expense) prior to practicum and/or observing.

Students are responsible for their own transportation.
Practicum sites are subject to availability.
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. Practicum training is conducted in shifts at placement facilities (eg. 8 hours per day) Parts I, II and III will be taken prior to IV, V and VI.

Additional Notes:

Successful completion of any of the following courses – EC100, EC110 or EC180 individually or as part of a program will allow the student to apply for assistant status. Successful completion of EC100 includes attendance of a minimum of 90 instructional/classroom hours to be eligible for this certificate.

Note: Child Care sites may require more current and/or additional CRC (for instance: RCMP) and TB testing (to be done at student’s expense) prior to practicum and/or observing. Students are responsible for their own transportation. Practicum sites are subject to availability.

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.

Important Websites

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/support/strongstart-bc
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning

University Transfer Programs

Through our pathway programs, students can complete an Early Childhood Diploma in the first year at Sprott Shaw and pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree at BCIT. Alternatively, students can also complete an Early Childhood Diploma in the first year at Sprott Shaw and pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Management at City University in Canada. Contact an advisor to learn more.

Learn more about our other Pathway Programs here.

Similar Programs

Early Childhood Education Children with Exceptionalities Program

Early Childhood Education Basic Program

Early Childhood Education Infant Toddler Program

Early Childhood Education Post-Basic Program

ECE Post-Basic Infant & Toddler Program

ECE Post-Basic Children with Exceptionalities Program

Early Childhood Education – Montessori

* Early Childhood Education Program was reviewed and approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training.

Students can expect to complete one to three hours of homework per day.