What is an Early childhood educator?
Early Childhood Education
The training, knowledge, and competencies of early childhood educators are distinct and unique from other professions. The specialized skills of ECEs provide for collaborative opportunities with other regulated professionals.
Early childhood education training is structured to teach both the theoretical and practical sides of early childhood development (children 12 and under).
The Early Childhood Education program prepares graduates to work with infants, toddlers, preschool and school-aged children and their families in a variety of early learning settings including childcare centres, community child and family support centres, home-based child care, Full Day Early Learning Kindergarten programs, school readiness and early intervention programs.
Graduates create safe, healthy and inclusive early learning environments that support equitable and accessible learning opportunities for children with diverse abilities, interests and ideas, and their families. Early childhood educators work collaboratively with colleagues, children and families from diverse cultures, experiences and backgrounds. Early childhood educators form partnerships with families, and support their parenting through ongoing communication, guidance and education. Graduates form collaborative relationships with professionals from other disciplines to support holistic development of all children.
Early childhood educators establish responsive relationships with children and families to support the optimal development and learning of all children. In addition, early childhood educators acknowledge that there is variability among children and recognize potential areas that may require referral for further assessment and/or intervention.
Graduates design and implement quality play-based early learning curriculum and programs that support the learning needs of individuals and groups of children, as well as their families. Early childhood educators capitalize on spontaneous events in order to support child-initiated learning and to promote learning that arouses curiosity and imagination. Graduates evaluate and revise curriculum based on regular observations and analysis of children’s development and their responses to the curriculum and goals of the program.
Graduates have knowledge of current legislation related to early learning environments and recognize the interconnection of governing legislation, code of ethics, professional practice standards, and administrative responsibilities in order to provide support and guidance to children and their families.
Along with other early learning professionals and community partners, early childhood educators function in advocacy roles for children and families and for quality early learning environments.
Graduates of the Early Childhood Education program base their work with children and families on relevant pedagogy, theories and evidence-based practices, making informed choices based on their professional knowledge. Core professional values of care, respect, trust and integrity enable graduates to formally recognize their commitment to children, families, colleagues, and the community and to the profession of early childhood education.
Early childhood educators engage in reflective practice and commit to ongoing professional development to enhance their practice. Graduates are aware of the need to responsibly address ethical dilemmas that arise when working in early childhood education settings and practice in accordance with the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (College of Early Childhood Educators, 2011). Early Childhood Educators are governed by the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007. Registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators as a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) is required for practice in the province of Ontario.
Taken from Early Childhood Education Program Standard, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, December 2012. https://www.collegeece.ca/en/Documents/Early_Childhood_Education_Program_Standard_EN.pdf