Purpose

The purpose of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Diploma is to prepare graduates to work in licensed infant toddler, preschool, and inclusive childcare settings. The Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma includes three components: the Basic ECCE, and the integrated Post-Basic Infant Toddler and Special Needs.

The Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma provides graduates with an enriched and comprehensive knowledge of typical and atypical child development and inclusive practices in working with children 0-6. Each course in the post-basic ECCE program will cover integrated competencies from both specialty areas (IT & SN), which will result in an advanced level of professional competence for graduates of the program.

Duration

The duration of the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma is two years full time (1830 hours of combined lecture, field observations, and practicum). The maximum time for completion is 5 years. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Protect and promote the psychological and physical safety, health and well-being of young children ages 0-6 and implement effective inclusive practices in working with both typically developed and children with exceptionalities.

2. Develop and maintain a warm, caring, and responsive relationship with each child and with groups of children.

3. Administer daily experiences that support and promote children's physical, emotional, social, communication, cognitive, ethical and creative lives.

4. Use pedagogical narration to interpret and respond to every child's skills, abilities, interests and needs with special focus on infants and toddlers and children who need extra support.

5. Analyze variations in development among young children, ages 0-6.

6. Establish and maintain an open, cooperative relationship with each child's family.

7. Establish and maintain inclusive, supportive, collaborative relationships with others working in the early care and learning setting.

8. Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other community service providers working with the child.

9. Reflect on one's own knowledge, attitudes, and skills and take appropriate action for change.

10. Practice administrative and management skills as related to early care and learning settings.

11. Practice ethical and professional behaviour when working in the early childhood and education industry.

12. Advocate for high-quality, accessible, comprehensive and inclusive early care and learning settings.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 graduation or equivalent
• Minimum 18 years of age
• English Language Proficiency assessed at English 12 with a minimum ‘C’
• Interview with Selection Committee, in person or by video conference

• Two letters of recommendation, indicating suitability for the program

Upon Acceptance:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC)
  • Students in this program are required to complete a CRC. The CRC must be completed according to VCC's Criminal Record Check instructions. Students whose CRC results indicate they pose a risk to vulnerable populations will not be able to complete the requirements of the program (e.g. practicums) or graduate. 
• TB Screening
  • Students must submit a negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin test. If the TB skin test is positive, a negative TB chest x-ray is required.
• Immunizations
  • A VCC Immunization Record must be completed. Immunizations in the following are strongly recommended and in some cases may be required for practicum placements:
    • Diphtheria/Tetanus
    • Polio
    • Measles, Mumps & Rubella
    • Varicella (chicken pox)
    • Hepatitis B
    • Influenza

Program Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Term One		Credits
ECCE 1011	Introduction to ECCE Studies	2
ECCE 1301	Foundations in ECCE	2.5
ECCE 1302	Field Study 1	1
ECCE 1303	Communications	1.5
ECCE 1304	Observing and Recording	2
ECCE 1107	Guiding And Caring	2
ECCE 2309	Ecology of Family	2
	Credits	13
Term Two
ECCE 1305	Child Growth 1	2
ECCE 1306	Field Study 2	1
ECCE 2301	Creative Art	2
ECCE 2302	Explore Learning Environments	2
ECCE 2303	Field Study 4	1
ECCE 2305	Practicum 1	2.5
ECCE 2106	Field Study 5	1
ECCE 2102	Music and Movement	2
	Credits	13.5
Term Three
ECCE 1104	Child Growth 2	2
ECCE 1307	The Learning Child	2
ECCE 1308	Field Study 3	1
ECCE 2308	Language and Literature	2
ECCE 2115	Health, Safety & Nutrition	2
ECCE 2306	Practicum 2	2.5
ECCE 2304	Integrated Program Planning	1
ECCE 2307	Practicum 3	4
	Credits	16.5
Second Year
Term Four
ECCE 2313	Adv Child Growth & Dev IT/SN	2
ECCE 2314	Advanced Field Study IT/SN	1
ECCE 2235	Infant Practicum	4
ECCE 2315	Adv Hlth, Safety & Nutr IT/SN	2
	Credits	9
Term Five
ECCE 2320	Professional Perspectives	2
ECCE 2200	Enhancing Family Relationships	2
ECCE 2300	Childcare Administration	2
ECCE 2316	Role of the Caregiver IT	3
ECCE 2335	Toddler Practicum	4
	Credits	13
Term Six
ECCE 2317	Role of the Caregiver SN	3
ECCE 2230	Special Needs Practicum 1	4
ECCE 2330	Special Needs Practicum 2	4
	Credits	11
	Total Credits	76

Evaluation of Student Learning

Students are evaluated through a variety of methods including: quizzes, tests, essays, assignments, projects, presentations, participation, and group work. 

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 1.67 (55-59%) 'C-'. Students failing to maintain a minimum GPA in each semester may be required to withdraw from the ECCE program, or may be prevented from registering for the following term.

Students who complete all Year 1 courses (43 credits) may choose to exit the program with a Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate. Students may then choose to return to the program at a later time to complete the Diploma credential. 

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Prior learning assessment is not available for this program.

Transcript of Achievement

Transcript of Achievement 

The evaluation of learning outcomes for each student is prepared by the instructor and reported to the Student Records Department at the completion of semesters.

The transcript typically show a letter grade for each course. The grade point equivalent for a course is obtained from letter grades as follows:

Transcript of Achievement

Grade	Percentage	Description	Grade Point Equivalency
A+	90-100		4.33
A	85-89		4.0
A-	80-84		3.67
B+	76-79		3.33
B	72-75		3.00
B-	68-71		2.67
C+	64-67		2.33
C	60-63		2.00
C-	55-59	Minimum Pass	1.67
D	50-54		1.00
F	0-49	Failing Grade	0.00
S	70 or greater	Satisfactory - student has met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards
U		Unsatisfactory - student has not met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
I		Incomplete	N/A
IP		Course in Progress	N/A
W		Withdrawal	N/A
Course Standings
R		Audit. No Credit	N/A
EX		Exempt. Credit granted	N/A
TC		Transfer Credit	N/A

Grade Point Average (GPA)

1. The course grade points shall be calculated as the product of the course credit value and the grade value.

2. The GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total number of achieved course grade points by the total number of assigned course credit values. This cumulative GPA shall be determined and stated on the Transcript at the end of each Program level or semester.

3. Grades shall be assigned to repeated courses in the same manner as courses taken only once. For the purpose of GPA calculation of grades for repeated courses, they will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.