Early Childhood Education

Learn how to support, encourage, and promote a young child’s growth and development through observation and implementation of creative play-based learning experiences.

At Fleming College, Early Childhood Education students have unique opportunities to engage in active classroom learning environments that equip students with the skills and knowledge required to work with children (birth to 12 years).

All courses are based on a philosophy that encourages inclusive practices and partnerships with families. An emphasis is placed on applying what’s learned in the classroom to real–world settings, preparing students to start their careers as early childhood educators.

In semesters two and four you’ll put theoretical education to work in a childcare environment. In semester three, ECE teams will implement and run an Interactive Children’s Program, overseen by ECE faculty in the Peterborough community. This will prepare you for semester four when you will be pulling it all together in your final block field placements.

What You’ll Learn

• Design, implement, and evaluate inclusive and play-based early learning curricula and programs that support children’s holistic development and are responsive to individual children and groups of children’s observed abilities, interests, and ideas.
• Establish and maintain inclusive early learning environments that support diverse, equitable, and accessible developmental and learning opportunities for all children and their families.
• Select and use a variety of screening tools, observation, and documentation strategies to review, support, and promote children’s learning across the continuum of early childhood development.
• Establish and maintain responsive relationships with individual children, groups of children, and families.
• Assess, develop, and maintain safe, healthy, and quality early learning environments that meet the requirements of current legislation, agency policies, and evidence-based practices in early learning.
• Prepare and use professional written, verbal, nonverbal, and electronic communications when working with children, families, colleagues, employers, and community partners.