Early Years & Child Care
Early Childhood Education
Early Years & Child Care
Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day - October 24
Thank you to all the Early Childhood Educators, child care workers and providers for your dedication to delivering high-quality child care in Hamilton.
Take some time to let your educators know how much they mean to you.
Every day, Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) have the unique opportunity to support children in their earliest stages of life. They provide children with safe, responsive and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for their development and well-being.
What do Early Childhood Educators do?
- Educate, inspire and care for our youngest learners.
- Experience the joy of making a difference and positively influencing our future generation.
- Create and deliver inclusive play-based learning programs where children can explore, learn and grow.
- Play a key role in providing quality early learning and child care that benefits children, families and your community.
- Have a lifelong impact on children’s learning, behaviour and health.
ECEs have specialized knowledge and expertise in child development, play and inquiry-based learning. They are trained to:
- Understand brain development and how to support healthy growth.
- Identify children’s capabilities at various stages to support their social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development.
- Build partnerships with families to support children’s well-being.
- Plan activities that promote learning and build on children’s current abilities and interests.
Where do Early Childhood Educators work?
ECEs work in a variety of settings including within:
- Licensed child care centres
- Licensed home child care agencies
- School boards
- EarlyON Child and Family Centres
- Municipal government
- Ontario’s College of Early Childhood Educators
- Ontario’s Ministry of Education
- Post-secondary institutions
- Professional resource centres
- Special needs resourcing agencies
Possible Job Titles
- Registered Early Childhood Educator
- Child Care Program Leader (Supervisor, Manager, Director)
- Educational Assistant
- Professional Learning Consultant
- Resource Consultant
- Inclusion Facilitator
- Early Years Quality Analyst
- Pedagogical Leader
- Early Childhood Resource Specialist
- Ministry of Education Program Advisor
To pursue a career in Early Childhood Education, you will need to complete a college diploma program or equivalent education recognized by the College of Early Childhood Educators (the College).
Following the completion of a recognized program, you can register with the College in order to practice using the designation of Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE).
Grants
Ontario’s Ministry of Education has funding available for individuals working within the early years sector aiming to pursue their Early Childhood Education diploma designation. For more information, visit www.ecegrants.on.ca.
Ontario colleges have many early childhood education programs to teach students the skills they need to support a child’s developmental journey through the education system. To view a full list of programs available, visit www.ontariocolleges.ca.
Programs
Several colleges work with Hamilton’s child care and EarlyON programs for co-operative education placements for ECEs including:
- Mohawk College offers programs and placements in Hamilton and surrounding area.
- La Cité (French language instruction) is offered through distance learning, in Toronto or Ottawa.
- Collège Boréal (French language instruction) is offered through distance learning, in Hearst, Kapuskasing, Nipissing, Sudbury, Timmins, Toronto, Windsor.
- Six Nations Polytechnic (Indigenous knowledge, education, and skills training) has partnered with Niagara College in Brantford to offer programs and placements locally.
For more information about a career in Early Childhood Education, available financial supports, wages and various careers paths visit www.ontario.ca/page/become-registered-early-childhood-educator.
In Hamilton, ECEs are supported with continuous professional learning opportunities. The Affiliated Services for Children and Youth (ASCY) funded by the City of Hamilton, serves as the local professional resource centre. ASCY works collaboratively with child care operators, community partners and early years professionals to share knowledge and build professional skills through equitable opportunities for all. Membership and professional development opportunities are complimentary for ECEs who work for agencies that have a funding agreement with the City of Hamilton.
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