Field placement is central to the learning experience. You will obtain over 500 field placement hours in a variety of Childcare and Early Years professional settings. These experiences will provide you with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning into practice with groups of children within the community.
Early Childhood Education (Accelerated) (ECYA)
About the Program
This is an accelerated version of our Early Childhood Education program. To take advantage of this accelerated program option, prior education is required. If you do not have prior education, explore our Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.
In this three-semester diploma program, you will learn about the physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs of children. You will understand how to develop and implement inclusive programming in order to support the healthy development of children ranging in age from infancy to school-age.
Your studies will include courses in child development, curriculum, philosophy of education, communication, working with families and administration.
To practice in Ontario as a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) graduates must apply for registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Graduates of this program will meet the educational requirement for membership.
Part-time option is available >
Credential Awarded
Ontario College Diploma
Duration
3 Semesters (12 Months)
Starts
May
Program and Course Delivery
This program is offered in person. Students are required to come on campus to attend classes.
Skills
Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:
- Design healthy, safe, inclusive and engaging environments for children from infancy to school age.
- Plan and implement inclusive programming to support children’s development using current theories.
- Build positive relationships with children, families, colleagues and other professionals.
Work Experience
Field Placement
Your Career
As a graduate of this program, you may pursue future career options within:
- Child care centres
- Family resource programs
- Settlement centres
- EarlyON centres
- After-school programs
- Nursery schools
- Parent co-operative centres
- Private home child care
- Centres for children with special needs
- Kindergarten in the elementary school system
Affiliations and Associations
You will also have the opportunity to join the following affiliations:
- Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO)
- The Canadian Association for Young Children (CAYC)
- Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)
Program of Study
Course Code | Course Name | Weekly Hours |
---|---|---|
Semesters 1 & 2 | ||
ECY100 | Child Development | 3 |
ECY102 | Preschool Curriculum | 3 |
ECY103 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 2 |
ECY104 | Exploring Diversity | 2 |
ECY105 | Music and Creative Arts | 2 |
EFP102 | Preschool Field Placement | 16 |
Semester 3 | ||
ECY200 | Infant and Toddler Development | 2 |
ECY202 | Infant and Toddler Curriculum | 2 |
ECY203 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
ECY204 | Interpersonal Communication | 2 |
ECY205 | Philosophy of ECE | 2 |
EFP202 | Infant and Toddler Field Placement | 13 |
Semester 4 | ||
ECY300 | Children with Exceptionalities | 3 |
ECY302 | Inclusive Curriculum | 3 |
ECY304 | Legislation and Social Policy in Professional Practice | 3 |
ECY305 | School Age Curriculum | 3 |
EFP302 | Community Placement | 13 |
EFP305 | School Age Field Placement | 6 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate 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, inter-disciplinary 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.
Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or a mature applicant
- English: Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course
To take advantage of this accelerated program option, the following prior education is required:
- Ontario university or college degree or equivalent, or an Ontario college diploma or equivalent
Applicants with at least two years of successful completion of postsecondary credits may also be considered. If you are a high school applicant or have not previously studied at a postsecondary institution, explore our Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.
Internationally Educated Domestic Applicants
Applicants with credentials from outside of Canada must provide a "course-by-course" credential assessment from a recognized agency such as WES (World Education Services) or ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service), including a Postsecondary English course or equivalent.
Postsecondary English course equivalency can be demonstrated through the following:
- If your credential is from an institution and country where English is the primary language (Canada or one of the countries listed here), you can use your completed postsecondary credential to demonstrate English course equivalency
- If your credential is from a country where English is not the primary language, you may be eligible to take COM101 to meet the English language requirement
If you have any questions, please contact our team by email or call 416.764.0555.
Additional Information
To comply with the requirements of field placement organizations, you must have these documents prior to the start of the term. Documents must be valid for the duration of the placement semester:
-
Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check
-
Medical form: which includes current immunization and chest x-ray or tuberculin skin test reports
-
Standard First Aid and CPR-C
-
International students will need a valid Co-op Work permit.
To prepare for field placement students will receive an email invitation to attend an online Field Placement Orientation session. This session will provide you with helpful tips on how to complete these important documents.
If you are a current or recently accepted student and have questions about field placement documents, please email the field placement team.
Pathways
As a leader in academic pathways, we offer a range of options that will allow you to take your credential further in another Seneca program or a program at a partner institution.
To learn more about your eligibility, visit the Academic Pathways web page.