Early Childhood Education

Fanshawe’s unique Early Childhood Education program blends theory and coursework with real experience in the field. Students develop knowledge and professional skills in child development with the assistance of our diverse courses and learn about the valuable and specialized role that ECEs play in the community. This two-year Ontario College Diploma program will develop students’ knowledge and professional skills in the early childhood educator’s role and responsibilities. Work placements will expose students to a wide variety of age groups and multiple organizations where they will have had dynamic and eclectic experiences that will make them more valuable to the field of Early Childhood Education

Graduates from this program will gain diverse and dynamic skills for the evolving world of childhood education. Students will be qualified to work in a range of jobs including child care centres, early learning and family centres, before and after school programs and with school boards.

Students are required upon graduation and prior to working as an Early Childhood Educator to join the College of Early Childhood Educators. Certification by the Association for Early Childhood Educators, Ontario may be applied for after completion of the program.

What You’ll Learn

• 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.