Educational Support

Our updated two-year Educational Support diploma program prepares you to work in a school setting as part of the educational team supporting children with special needs. You will help children with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, sensory or physical disabilities and behavioural challenges.

Technology plays a key role in today’s modern classroom or institutional setting, and this program will enhance your knowledge of digital literacy and the assistive technologies you will use in your future career. You’ll graduate fully prepared to help students using iPads and current apps, including SMART Boards and other assistive technologies, such as voice-to-text software.

You will benefit from our faculty members’ recent and extensive experience in the field. In the second and third semesters, the roles of teacher and educational assistant will be explored and more clearly defined. You'll learn how to:

• manage behaviour
• modify educational programming
• support exceptional children
• assist with curriculum planning

Much of this training is experiential, taking place in various educational settings in the community.

During third semester, you will spend three days a week in class at the College and two days a week in a classroom in an area school. The final part of the program is an intensive, semester-long, practical learning experience in an educational setting or agency. During this placement experience, you'll work with students with a range of exceptionalities including autism, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, visual impairments, and learning disabilities. You can complete your placement in the location of your choice, whether that’s in your home town, in the Kawartha region or a larger city in Ontario.

If you have already completed an Ontario College Diploma or a university degree, you may be eligible for the accelerated Educational Support - Advanced Standing program. You can graduate in just ten months.

In the 20 years plus that the Educational Support program has been offering training, area school boards have said this is the diploma program they want their Educational Support staff to have. The Fleming program has a reputation for excellence, and well-rounded graduates.

You will refine your skills as a competent, caring educational support professional during the extensive 95-day placement in a real-world setting.

To succeed in this program and career, you require:

• a love of children and concern for their healthy physical, intellectual, and social emotional development
• strong oral and written communications skills
• the ability to work as part of a team
• flexibility
• cultural and "ability" sensitivity
• excellent interpersonal skills
• excellent problem solving skills
• empathy and creativity
• basic computer skills
• Any experience working with children or youth, such as in a summer camp or day care, or a peer tutoring program is an asset

The main employer of educational support professionals is the school system, but there are also opportunities in other institutional settings offering education as part of the programming. Some of our graduates find employment as a result of their semester-four placement and may even be offered a job prior to graduation.

Students should plan to spend approximately $700 per year for books and supplies. You will be required to submit a current police records check, which is available from your local police department upon payment of a fee.

Non Academic Requirements: Your program has mandatory requirements which may include a criminal reference check, first aid, CPR-C, etc. 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.

• Comply with legislation, standards, regulations, policies, practices, and procedures in the provision of educational support.
• Support learner development with evidence-based behaviour and mental health strategies with a focus on self-regulation.
• Collaborate as part of a multi-disciplinary team to design and implement evidence-based educational support strategies, practices, and programs.
• Model empathetic, positive, and pro-social behaviours to facilitate the development of social competence in all learners and contribute to safe and equitable learning communities.
• Promote independence and/or provide assistance in the performance of routine and instrumental activities of daily living.
• Choose and implement assistive technologies and daily living aids to build capacity in learners.
• Monitor, document, and report on the behaviour, performance, and progress of learners.
• Create strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance performance, maintain currency, and foster holistic self-care.

Students applying to Educational Support must meet the following requirements:

• OSSD including Gr 12 C English

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)