Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is a three-year, career program designed to produce qualified educators to work in various child care settings with children from birth to 12 years of age.

The ECCE program provides opportunities to link theory with practice. Knowledge of the "whole child" will be the foundation of first-year courses. In second year, students will put theory and acquired skills into practice. Students in their third and final year will demonstrate their ability to consolidate their learning.

The element of Life Long Learning is a strong component of the ECCE program at Heritage College. Students will have the opportunity to explore various facets of Life Long Learning as part of their experience through the mentoring program as well as through courses.

Program Competencies**

An ECCE graduate will be able to:

• Examine the job functions of an educator;
• Observe children's behaviour;
• Identify a child's needs with respect to that child's overall development;
• Function safely in the work environment;
• Establish an affective relationship with children;
• Use intervention techniques as needed with respect to a child's health;
• Promote good nutrition;
• Communicate in the workplace;
• Analyze a child's specific needs;
• Provide support to a child;
• Use creativity in the workplace;
• Define the educational approach to be taken with children;
• Design activities promoting overall child development;
• Organize educational activities;
• Lead educational activities;
• Work as a member of a team;
• Establish a partnership with parents and resource people;
• Intervene with respect to the behaviour of a child or a group of children;
• Design and review the educational program;
• Organize a child care establishment;
• Provide educational services to a group of children.

** According to Ministère de la famille et de l'enfance competencies.

Career/Study Opportunities

Graduates from the ECCE program at Heritage College are qualified to work with children from birth to 12 years of age in early childhood care and education centres. The diploma is recognized as equivalent across Canada as well as in many other countries. Graduates are eligible to work in a variety of settings from child-care-centre-based care to home daycare centres and resource centres, and to fill administrative positions in les centres de la petite enfance or in child-related industries.

A percentage of ECCE graduates will decide to continue their education at the university level. Some credits acquired in the ECCE program are recognized toward certain degree programs.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the Early Childhood Care and Education program, you need a secondary school diploma.

However, the College may admit a person who has received instruction which it considers equivalent.

Forms for New Students

The ECCE Program links your classroom learning with direct contact experiences in a variety of child care environments. Because of this interaction with children, there are several documents that we require be completed and returned to the ECCE Department during the first few weeks of the semester. They include:

1. Personal Information Form
2. Medical Physical Certificate
3. Off-campus Activities Form
4. Application for Criminal Reference Check
   Do not bring this form to the police station.

Please bring all of the above forms with you during the first week of class. All forms must be carefully completed and handed in to your Program Coordinator.