Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Inclusive Education Early Childhood Educator
Online
Start: January, April, July & October
29 weeks, including 12 weeks of practicum
$28-$32/hour (includes a $6/hour government wage enhancement)
Early Childhood Educator Registry
About the Career
Early Childhood Educators (ECE) teach children during their formative years, from birth to age five. They develop and implement educational programs that stimulate children's intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth.
Our Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Inclusive Education Early Childhood Educator diploma allows those who have already taken an Early Childhood Education Basic certificate to advance their career and education. It prepares graduates to work with infants, toddlers, and children with exceptionalities.
There has been an increased need for teachers trained to support infants, toddlers, and children with exceptionalities over the past 5 years. The B.C. Early Childhood Education Registry is encouraging Basic ECE teachers to continue their training and become Post-Basic educators to help fill this need.
Graduates from the Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Inclusive Education Early Childhood Educator diploma are qualified for employment in:
- Childcare facilities caring for infants and toddlers (up to three years old)
- Programs with children who have exceptionalities or require extra support, from infancy to school age
Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Inclusive Education Early Childhood Educator graduates are also prepared to handle a wider range of administrative and supervisory responsibilities.
Please note: This program is not eligible for the post-graduate work permit program.
Potential Employers
Early Childhood Educators (ECE) teach children during their formative years, from birth to age five. Post-Basic ECE graduates work with infants, toddlers, and children with exceptionalities.
Childcare facilities caring for infants and toddlers (up to three years old)
Programs with children who have exceptionalities or require extra support, from infancy to school age
About the Program
Our Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Inclusive Education Early Childhood Educator diploma is 29 weeks and includes 12 weeks of practicum experience. You will gain the skills to support infants and toddlers (children from infancy to three years of age), and children with exceptionalities. It will also prepare you for a broader range of administrative responsibilities, including working in a supervisory capacity as a manager, consultant, or daycare owner.
Neuroscience research states that early brain development, particularly from birth to five years, establishes the foundation for all the cognitive learning, health and social relationships that will follow a child in their life. This program introduces you to relevant and related research and science, so that you can best support children during this time. By the end of the program, you will better understand the growth and development patterns of infants and toddlers, and be able to identify typical and atypical patterns of development. This ability will be essential in your role as an infant, toddler, and inclusive education educator.
This program is delivered online. It is designed for individuals who may be balancing other responsibilities, such as work and family. If you are currently working as an Early Childhood Education and your facility cares for infants, toddlers, and children with exceptionalities, you may be able to complete your practicum at your place of work.
This program is recognized by the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development's ECE Registry.
Related Programs
Post-Graduation Pathways
Articulation Agreement with BCIT
Graduates of our Early Childhood Education program are eligible to apply for BCIT's Advanced Diploma in Business Management.
Upon completion of Stenberg's Early Childhood Education program, with an additional 1 year full-time at BCIT, you can acquire an Advanced Diploma in one of Canada's largest business schools, obtaining skills and experiences that will prepare you for the next step in your career.
Articulation - Direct Pathway (Post-Graduation)
Stenberg Early Childhood Education Program
58 Weeks
→BCIT Advanced Diploma in Business Management
1 Year Full-Time
→BCIT Bachelor of Business Administration
1 Year Full-Time
After completing BCIT's Business Management Advanced Diploma, students have the option to enroll in BCIT's Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), earning a degree that emphasizes critical and strategic thinking.
Learn more about the Stenberg-BCIT Pathway.
Accreditation and Recognition
Stenberg College is designated by the BC government's Ministry of Advanced Education through the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU). This program is approved by the PTIRU of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. PTIRU is responsible for setting standards of quality and ensuring consumer protection. Stenberg College has also received the BC government's Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, which is BC's brand or "seal" of quality post-secondary education for public and private institutions.
Admission Requirements
- Successful completion of the ECE basic (certificate) level program
- Acceptable Criminal Record Review with Vulnerable Sector Check by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
- Additional site-specific orientation/training may be required
Student Diversity
Stenberg supports diversity in our student population, and we hold one seat per program for a self-identified Indigenous applicant who meets admission requirements. If the seat remains unfilled at 12 weeks prior to the program start, the seat will be released and offered to other qualified applicants.
Program Courses
Orientation and Student Success Skills
This course will provide an orientation to Stenberg College and the Early Childhood Education program. This course will prepare you to be a successful college student. You will identify your learning style, critical thinking, and learn about the available resources. You will learn effective reading, writing, and study habits. You will learn what is expected of a college student, like communication, accountability/responsibility, teamwork, self-awareness, and following policies.
Advanced Child Growth & Development
This course will review and expand on information on typical and a-typical growth and development of children from birth to school age. Major theories in the area of Child Growth and Development will be evaluated and re-examined with a particular focus being on all the key domains of development related to infants, toddlers and children with exceptionalities.
Interacting with Families, School and Community
This course examines the knowledge, strategies and competencies needed by Early Childhood Educators to effectively work with families of infants and toddlers and children with exceptionalities. It focuses on communication skills that encourage positive relationships with families, professionals and communities.
Advanced Health, Safety and Nutrition
This course, as an extension of the Health, Safety and Nutrition course in the ECE Basic Program, will provide you with the knowledge and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating health practices for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children who need extra support in integrated and infant/toddler settings. Emphasis will be placed on creating policies and practices that promote positive habits and attitudes towards health, safety and nutrition and ensure the health and well-being of children.
Administration Skills for Child Care Centres
This course examines the role of an administrator in an Early Childhood Program. This will include effective staff supervision, models and techniques for evaluating and motivating staff, the budgeting process, advertising and marketing strategies. You will learn about funding that is available from all levels of government as well as service organizations in the private sector.
Foundations of Working with Infants and Toddlers
This course examines the challenges and characteristics of providing quality programs for infants and toddlers. It explores programming techniques which respond to individual and group needs of children up to 36 months of age. The focus of this course is on developing an awareness of the critical importance of care and interaction in the lives of infants and toddlers.
Program Planning for Infants and Toddlers
This course examines characteristics of quality programs for infants and toddlers. It explores programming techniques and use of developmentally appropriate materials which respond to individual and group needs of children up to 36 months of age. There is focus on designing curriculum for infants and toddlers that is responsive to the changing developmental needs of that age group.
Foundations of Working with Children with Exceptionalities
This course explores the family centered approach which focuses on promoting social interactions amongst children with exceptionalities. You will be assisted to develop specialized skills in the care and guidance of working with children who require additional support and developmental differences will be reviewed in detail.
Program Planning for Children with Exceptionalities
This course explores the selection and use of appropriate assessment materials and intervention techniques for working with children who have exceptionalities. It examines the adaptation of curriculum to meet special care needs in various group care environments. Practical strategies to create quality inclusive learning environments for young children will be discussed.
Infant / Toddler Practicum
The Infant Toddler Practicum is a minimum of 200 hours of a guided, supervised experience in a licensed infant/toddler program. This practicum will give you opportunities to practice working with children from birth to 36 months. It includes both theory and developmentally appropriate practices. You will demonstrate programming and guiding and caring for this age group of children.
Inclusive Education Practicum
The Inclusive Education Practicum is 200 hours of a guided, supervised experience in a licensed early childhood program that is inclusive of children that require additional support. This practicum will give you opportunities to practice working with children with a variety of exceptionalities. It includes both theory and developmentally appropriate practices. You will demonstrate programming and guiding and caring for children with exceptionalities.
Optional Certification
Students have the option to complete the Personal & Professional Development Skills Certificate.
Personal & Professional Development Skills Certificate
The Personal and Professional Development (PPD) Skills Certificate is a combination of interactive, online modules and synchronous follow-up discussions that apply the general module content to the specifics of your program and future career. In addition to the Soft Skills Development module, you will develop your ability to work with diverse clients, patients, and colleagues through the Gender Diversity and Sexual Orientation; Disability, Neurodiversity, and Accessibility; Anti-Indigenous Racism and Indigenous Gender Diversity; and Anti-Racism modules.
Student Support
- Academic tutoring
- Assessment and skill development support
- Open study skills tutorials
- Typing practice support
- One-on-one student support coaching sessions
- English language learning support
- Online learning resources
- Online academic journals and databases
- Campus life events
Stories from our Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Inclusive Education Early Childhood Educator grads
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