Early Childhood Education

Program Highlights

This two year program will equip you to work within a supervised child care environment. Early Childhood Educators facilitate growth and learning with young children during the critical, formative years. Highly applicable courses in our program include the role of the educator, child development, introduction to exceptionalities, social psychology, administration and curriculum planning. Classroom learning is applied in field practicums in semesters two and three.

Why Choose Fleming

Get individual attention from your instructors--and customized field placements that are a benefit of being in a smaller group of students. Fleming's ECE programs have the advantage of integrated learning in the field. Program students in Lindsay participate in a Toddler Program. In Peterborough, the Fleming Childcare Centre, located at St. Joseph's at Fleming,  provides opportunities for students to learn about and play with preschool children.

Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative
Fleming College's Aboriginal Emphasis Initative is an inclusive approach to providing more understanding of Aboriginal peoples, communities and nations. ECE students at Sutherland Campus (Peterborough) will have an opportunity to take courses designed from an Aboriginal perspective with emphasis on Aboriginal peoples, history, spirituality and culture. See the Aboriginal Emphasis Initiative  page for courses available in this program.

Work Experience

In semesters two and three, you'll put theoretical education to work in a child care environment. This will enrich studies in semester four, when you will be pulling it all together in a field placement. Field placements require a current Police Records Check, and Proof of Immunization. You must provide a current Standard First Aid Certificate and basic CPR Certificate (level C) before graduation. You must be able to lift children up to age five and diaper children of all ages. A background working with young children (ages newborn to 12) in licenced child care centres is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for field placement.

Is this You?

To succeed in this program and in an ECE career, you need:

• Experience working with young children
• Well-adjusted, grounded personality
• A good sense of humour and imagination
• Patience
• Empathy
• Creativity

Career Opportunities

After working two years in the field, you will be certified as an Early Childhood Educator. There is an extremely high placement rate in related employment for graduates of Fleming's ECE programs. Early Childhood Educators find work in day care centres, nursery schools, home day care programs, treatment centres, resource services and parent drop-in centres, pediatric hospital wards, and as teacher assistants in primary classrooms. Possibilities that are more exotic include children's programming at resorts (like Club Med) or cruise ships. Graduates are also qualified to become owner-operators of child care centres.

Study Part-Time to Obtain Your Early Childhood Education Diploma

The Early Childhood Education Diploma is offered part-time with courses available in the fall and winter semesters at our Lindsay Campus. This program has been designed primarily to enable childcare professionals working in licensed childcare settings to upgrade their qualifications in order to obtain the Early Childhood Education diploma. By taking two courses each fall and winter, you can complete your diploma in five years. Through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), you can obtain credit for your work experience to meet the requirements for field practice courses. You may also be able to take summer courses at our Peterborough campus and complete the diploma in three years.

You may be eligible for education grants, travel grants and/or a training allowance to obtain your ECE diploma through full-time or part-time studies. Find out more information at: www.ecegrants.on.ca

For more information on the part-time Early Childhood Education program, contact the program coordinator Linda Hudson at 866-353-6464 x 1871 or through the email address link above.

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students

If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

* Students starting in January are required to attend classes over the summer semester.

Related Programs

If you're sincerely interested in working with children, and are not sure yet which path to take, you might want to consider the Educational Assistant, Social Service Worker or Recreation and Leisure Services programs.

Health Requirements

Immunization Requirements

This program has immunization requirements. For more information, and to print the required immunization form, please see the Immunization Information page.

Additional Costs

Approximately $750 per year for books and supplies.

Transfer Agreements

• Athabasca University
• Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
• Ryerson University
• University of New Brunswick
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

For more information see the Pathways to University page.