Becoming an Early Childhood Educator (ECE)
Turn your love of children into an exciting career
What is an ECE?
An Early Childhood Educator creates a safe and interactive learning environment where children can become lifelong learners. The ECE is a knowledgeable, caring, reflective and resourceful professional. They are valuable contributors engaged in meaningful work. As a R.E.C.E, there are many job opportunities within the field such as:
Childcare Site Supervisor
Childcare Center Director
Children’s Services Supervisor
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Camp counsellor
Child care worker
Lead educator
Early ON program facilitator
Licensed Home Child Care Provider
Home Child Care Consultant
Resource consultant
With your ECE Diploma you could work in any of these settings/programs:
Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School age rooms in childcare
Early learning programs such as Early Learning School Readiness Program
Programs for families including parenting, pre/post-natal, recreational activities
Before/after school care
Home Childcare
Special Needs programming
Quality Assurance programs
Your journey begins
Programs and pathways to becoming an ECE in Timiskaming:
NORTHERN COLLEGE: Early Childhood Education: In person or Online
https://www.northerncollege.ca/program/early-childhood-education/
COLLÈGE BORÉAL: Éducation à la service à l’enfance : En ligne
Working in childcare and would like to get your ECE?
SKILLED TRADES ONTARIO
Child Development Practitioner Apprenticeship
https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/trade-information/child-development-practitioner/
Support for getting there
Grants and Funding Opportunities:
ECE grants: Education grants, travel grants, training allowance.
Already an ECE and want more?
Leadership Certifications through ECE Grants
https://ecegrants.on.ca/leadership-certification/#leadership-grant
This program was established to provide financial assistance to Supervisors, front line registered Early Childhood Educators designated to leadership positions and or responsibilities, and to registered Early Childhood Educators aspiring to become Supervisors in the field of Early Childhood Education. The main objective is to fund professional development opportunities in the areas of Pedagogical Leadership in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education administration, management, facilities management, fiscal responsibility, governance, human resources, employment standards, and labour relations.
Example of courses available:
Children’s Mental Health, Bookkeeping, Autism and Behavioral Science, Human Resources, Leadership Development.
Do you want to work from home and work in the child care sector?
There is opportunity to work from your own home as a Licensed Home Child Care Provider in the District of Timiskaming.
Licensed Home Child Care Providers create a warm, nurturing environment in their home for children of different ages to learn and grow together. With low child-to-caregiver ratios, it allows you to give more personal attention, foster relationships, plan quality activities in a family setting. Becoming a Licensed Home Child Care Provider gives you flexibility to develop your own hours from full to part time, and can even include evenings, overnights, and weekends. Support through screening, training, inspections and monitoring is provided by two agencies within our district.
Follow the links below to learn more from: