Early Childhood Education Diploma Program
Quality early childhood education helps shape how children grow, learn, communicate, and build confidence from their earliest years forward. The Early Childhood Education Diploma Program is designed for students who want to build a meaningful career supporting children from birth to age 12 during key stages of cognitive, social, emotional, language, and physical development.
Through this program, you’ll develop the practical skills, professional knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to work in early learning environments with confidence. You’ll explore the major frameworks that guide modern practice, including the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA), How Does Learning Happen?, and ELECT (Early Learning for Every Child Today), while learning how to create environments that support belonging, well-being, engagement, and expression.
The program also emphasizes professional ethics, family collaboration, pedagogy, and inclusive practice so you graduate ready to contribute in early learning settings with both compassion and professionalism. Upon graduation, students are eligible to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE), which is required to work as an Early Childhood Educator in Ontario.
Areas of Focus
This program covers information in the following subject areas:
- Child Development Across Ages
- Observation, Documentation & Curriculum Planning
- Guidance, Relationships & Professional Practice
- Health, Safety & Nutrition
- Inclusion, Music & School Age Pedagogy
- Hands-On Practicum Experience
You’ll complete 590 hours of practicum across three settings:- Practicum 1: Infant & Toddler – 280 hours
- Practicum 2: Early Education – 210 hours
- Practicum 3: School Age Environment – 100 hours
Skills You Will Learn
- Child development from prenatal stages through school age
- Observation and documentation
- Guiding children
- Curriculum planning
- Family and community relationships
- Health, safety, and nutrition
- Inclusion of children with exceptionalities
- Music and movement
- School age pedagogy and care
Main Duties
Early Childhood Educators plan, implement, and evaluate play-based learning programs that support the cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and language development of children from infancy through school age. They observe and document children’s behaviour and progress, using this information to develop responsive, developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with established early learning frameworks. ECEs create and maintain safe, healthy, and inclusive environments that promote engagement, well-being, and positive behaviour, while supporting daily routines, nutrition, and overall child wellness.
ECEs build and maintain collaborative relationships with families, colleagues, and community partners to support each child’s individual needs. They communicate regularly with families regarding children’s development and participate as active members of early learning teams. ECEs uphold professional and ethical standards, maintain accurate records, and apply current best practices in early childhood education. They may also support children with diverse needs and exceptionalities through inclusive programming and individualized approaches.
Salary
- According to Job Banks Canada, the average base salary for an Early Childhood Educator in Ontario is $45,760 per year (2026)
Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Mature Student Status
- NACC Entrance Exam
