A Launching Pad for a Career in Early Childhood Education

Are you looking to attend one of Canada's college-level early childhood programs that will allow you to either pursue further education or enter the field right away? If so, look no further than Centennial College’s early childhood education program, which focuses on offering students the know-how to become Early Childhood Assistants. As such, after two semesters students can enter the field and find work as: child care assistants in child care centers, child care providers with licensed child care agencies, independent child care providers, and in-home nannies. If on the other hand, these students want more education in early childhood education, they may enter Centennial College’s two-year ECE program. In fact, between 10 and 33 per cent of graduates from the Early Childhood Assistant offering do so. Many of these students are exempt from some ECE courses as a result of attaining a high level of success in the ECA program. ECA graduates who have successfully completed the ECE program have also been accepted into Ryerson University or York University.

This early childhood education program is designed specifically for mature students, ESL students and those with learning disabilities. Thanks to this design, classrooms are small, there is a hands-on approach and faculty members encourage a learning environment in which support is offered to students on an on-going basis.

This Centennial College early childhood education offering boasts one or two major assignments, a mid-term and a final test per course as well as presentations, small group assignments and in-class workshop participation. Specific topics covered within the early childhood education courses include: professionalism, infant and toddler development, the learning environment, health and wellbeing, guiding children's behaviour, preschool and school-age learning, and more. All of these learning elements work together to prepare students for two practicum experiences. Some field placement agencies require a criminal reference check prior to student placement. Certain criminal convictions may disallow placement in these agencies and program completion may not be possible. Students must also have a clear medial report to participate.

As a result of the early childhood program, students have the knowledge to: plan and implement individual programs and curriculum to meet the developmental needs of children; utilize a variety of observation techniques to enhance work with children, families and co-workers; maintain responsive relationships with individual children and groups of children; establish and maintain safe and healthy environments that best meet the requirements of current legislation, regulatory bodies and program policies; develop and maintain effective written, oral, non-verbal and electronic communications with children, families, co-workers, employers and individuals/ agencies; apply relevant legislation, policies, procedures and regulations to early childhood education programs and settings in a changing social context; and more.

If you are interested in applying for this specific early childhood program, you are required to have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); and English Grade 12 or skills assessment. Applicants are also required to attend a program admission session.