Early Childhood Education

Fleming’s Early Childhood Education diploma program prepares you to inspire and nurture young learners by creating enriching, play-based environments for children aged 0–12 across Ontario’s Early Learning and Care sector.

You’ll explore key areas such as child development, program planning, social competencies, inclusive environments, and outdoor play, gaining the knowledge and skills to support children’s growth and well-being. Over four semesters, you’ll complete eight online evening courses, typically two to three per term, with delivery formats that best support each course’s learning outcomes.

In addition, you’ll gain more than 525 hours of hands-on experience, working directly with children in real-world settings that bring classroom learning to life.

Grounded in How Does Learning Happen?, Ontario’s early years pedagogy, the program embraces the four foundational principles of Belonging, Well-Being, Engagement, and Expression, which are woven throughout every course and reflected in the curriculum.

Our faculty are dedicated to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring an inclusive, supportive, and engaging educational experience for every student.

This program has a strong focus on integrating hands-on learning into all aspects of the curriculum and offering opportunities to add skills that will help students stand out after graduating. 

Fleming's ECE diploma program was the first in Ontario to offer an outdoor class - 45 hours of outdoor education that equip students to design and implement outdoor, child-centric learning experiences, such as building shelters, creating nature art, and more. The curriculum for this course is based on concepts on "Pathways to Stewartship and Kinship", a program initiated and directed by renowned Camp Kawartha in Peterborough.

Outdoor play pop-ups with children from local kindergarten and childcare centres are occasionally arranged at Fleming, which give students the opportunity to create play-based learning experiences on campus. 

Two optional micro-credits are available to students:

The Eco-Mentorship micro-credential offers educators the tools to infuse environmental education into every aspect of their teaching—sparking curiosity, inspiring action, and celebrating Indigenous roots in sustainability.

The Kindergarten micro-credential, developed in partnership with Trent’s Bachelor of Education program, fosters collaboration between B.Ed. university students and Fleming’s EC students. It provides a dynamic space for learning and exchanging ideas, with the opportunity for students from both institutions to complete their placement together as an educator team.

The Early Childhood (EC) Program at Fleming College is committed to providing authentic, hands-on learning experiences that bridge theory and practice. Throughout the program, courses integrate unique opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, ensuring they regularly engage with professional practice.

In Year Two, students complete 525 hours of formal field practicum, working directly with children aged 0-12 in play-based environments. These placements align with the College of Early Childhood Educators Policy Statement Regarding Practicum (2021), ensuring graduates meet industry standards with confidence and expertise.

Being an Early Childhood Educator is an excellent career choice for individuals who are passionate about working with young children, eager to understand their development, and committed to supporting them in reaching their full potential.

Students in this program excel in communication, patience, and empathy, and share a dedication to lifelong learning. If you value a career that makes a lasting impact, this program provides the foundation to thrive in play-based environments and early learning settings.

Some of the remaining courses in this program are PLAR eligible (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition). This means that, if you already have extensive experience working with children in play-based environments, you may be able to demonstrate that you’ve met the learning outcomes without taking the course.

Each PLAR-eligible course includes its own assessment, which may take the form of a test, portfolio, or assignment, depending on what the course is measuring. If you successfully complete a PLAR assessment, your grade will appear on your official transcript. If not, you’ll simply register for that course in a future semester. Learn more about Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) at: flemingcollege.ca/admissions/prior-learning-assessment-and-recognition

The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) regulates Ontario’s early childhood educators in public interest. Graduates of the EC program at Fleming College meet the academic requirements to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (CECE) and may work in a wide variety of settings, including: 

• Advocacy 
• Government 
• Post-Secondary Institutions 
• Full-day Kindergarten & Other Classroom Settings 
• Children’s Services 
• Family Support Programs 
• Licensed Child Care 
• Unlicensed Home Child Care 
• Recreation Programs 

Find out more about the scope of practice of a Registered Early Childhood Educator in Ontario through the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE).

Students who are working in the Early Learning and Care profession in Ontario at the same time as completing their post secondary studies may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through the Ontario ECE Grants Qualification Upgrade program. Funding pools open each semester and students are encouraged to seek out more information here: https://ecegrants.on.ca/ 

Non Academic Requirements

This program has mandatory requirements. Students are required to be compliant with their Non-Academic Requirements (NARs) throughout the duration of their program studies. For more information, please see the Non Academic Requirements page.

The Indigenous Perspectives Designation (IPD) is an option available to students in this program. To qualify for an IPD, you must take and successfully complete a series of required Indigenous Studies courses as well as participate in a minimum of four approved co-curricular Indigenous events or experiences. Your transcript will indicate the IPD upon graduation, a designation that provides you with a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories, traditions, and contributions to our shared society within the context of your program of study. The IPD provides a valuable skill set sought after in today's employment sector.

• Create learning contexts to enable, build and maintain caring, responsive relationships in partnerships with children, families and communities that value and respect social, cultural and linguistic diversity including Indigenous peoples worldviews and Francophone identity.
• Co-create, facilitate and reflect upon inquiry and play-based early years and child care programs and pedagogical approaches to support children's learning, holistic development and well-being following childrens capabilities, interests, ideas and experiences.
• Co-design and maintain inclusive early learning environments to value and support equitable, accessible and meaningful learning opportunities for all children, their families and communities in a range of early years and child care settings.
• Collaborate with children, families, colleagues, agencies and community partners to create, maintain, evaluate and promote safe and healthy early learning environments to support independence, reasonable risk-taking and healthy development and well-being.
• Use observation strategies to identify children's strengths and challenges and to ascertain when children and families might benefit from additional support or community resources.
• Use professional communication in interactions with children, families, colleagues, employers, the regulatory body, government authorities and childrens service agencies to meet legal and ethical standards of the early years sector.
• Act in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, agency policies and procedures and principles of evidence-informed practice and reflect upon their impact on ones own role in early years and child care settings.
• Identify, report and document when a child is in a situation of perceived risk for, or actual neglect or abuse, in accordance with legislation, the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, policies and procedure.
• Create and engage in partnerships with families, communities, colleagues, inter-disciplinary professionals, authorities and child service agencies to advocate for quality early years and child care programs and services.
• Engage in reflective practice and continuous professional learning in accordance with principles of lifelong learning, evidence-informed practices in the early years sector and requirements of the College of Early Childhood Educators.
• OPTIONAL engage with Indigenous children, families and communities to co-create, implement and evaluate Indigenous early years and child care and child and family programs and environments that are culturally sensitive and culturally relevant to the communities they serve.

Students applying to Early Childhood Education must meet the following requirements:

• OSSD including Gr 12 C English

The EC program at Fleming College embraces the use of technology in the post-secondary classroom setting. All students are required to have their own computer, which will be used both inside the classroom, and out. Having access to a webcam, microphone and reliable internet access will be essential to support student success.

PC / Windows

• Operating System:
  Windows 10
• Processor:
  Core i5 - 1.6Ghz minimum
• Memory:
  8GB minimum
• Hard Disk:
  160GB minimum

Apple / MacOS

• Operating System:
  MacOS 10.12 or newer
• Processor:
  Core i5 6th Gen or better
• Memory:
  8GB minimum
• Hard Disk:
  160GB minimum

Internet Connection: 2.5 Mbps Download and 3.0 Mbps Upload (minimum)