Make a difference – help young children reach their potential

Sheridan’s Early Childhood Education (ECE Diploma) program prepares you to become a highly skilled professional dedicated to providing young children with the best possible education and care. The ECE program focuses on applying research-based theory to practical experiences that encourages young children’s optimal development and growth.

The ECE college diploma program was created specifically for students who have already completed university or college programs in a related field and want to fast-track their early childhood education career. The ECE-Intensive Program is of particular interest to those returning to a second career educating children or for those who have international credentials not currently recognized as equivalent to ECE. When you graduate from this two-semester college program, you'll be eligible to become a registered member of the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE), a requirement for practice in the province of Ontario. Through the Early Childhood Education (ECE)–Intensive Program you'll learn about:

• Best practices for working with children in early childhood
• Roles and responsibilities of the early childhood educator
• The importance of play in a child’s development and learning
• Curriculum design and implementation
• Program models in early childhood
• Promotion of pro-social behavior
• Child development from pre-birth to school-age

Sheridan has a formalized partnership with the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, which allows you to study this renowned, research-based developmentally appropriate curriculum. This opportunity is unique in the Ontario college system. Graduates may continue their studies in the High/Scope approach and receive additional accredited High/Scope credentials.

Your accomplished professors are highly qualified with both strong academic backgrounds and extensive multi-disciplinary experience in working with young children. In addition, your professors are active participants serving within a variety of provincial and local child education initiatives.

You'll learn in state-of-the-art facilities utilizing technology and hands-on application in a curriculum room that emphasizes, encourages and fosters best practices in early learning based on current theoretical research. The use of laptop computers in the classroom enriches the learning opportunity as you access the latest research and educational trends through Internet exploration. The use of laptop computers encourages collaborative, team-based learning within the classroom while offering you the chance to develop technical skills needed for the competitive and increasingly technology-driven world. This feature also gives you a 24/7 connection to learning materials.

Field Placement

You'll have the opportunity to transfer theoretical knowledge to applied practice in two ECE field placement experiences, each exposing you to a different venue of early childhood education. There is opportunity for atypical placement experiences including an international placement in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Postsecondary Fast Track

Sheridan Early Childhood Education, Intensive one-year diploma program is for students who have completed a related postsecondary program and want to fast-track their career.

The Sheridan Early Childhood Education (ECE) Intensive program is located at the Davis Campus in Brampton, Ontario and the Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville, Ontario.