Educational Support (Advanced Standing)

Explore the roles of teacher and educational assistant. Learn how to manage behaviour, modify educational programming, support children with a range of special needs, and assist with curriculum planning. Much of this training is experiential, in various educational settings in the 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.

Our Educational Support graduates are in demand by many area school boards, because our program has a 20-year plus reputation for producing well-rounded, highly adaptable graduates with a broad-skill set.

You will refine your skills as a competent, caring educational assistant during your field practices. In your second semester, you will take part in a 25-day field practice. During your final semester, you will complete a seven-week block field practice*. You may choose to do your final practice in any community in Ontario that you wish. You will be required to submit a current police records check, which is available from your local police department upon payment of a fee.

To succeed in this program and career, you need:

• a love of children
• concern for their healthy physical, intellectual, social and emotional development
• the ability to work as part of a team
• strong interpersonal and problem solving skills
• empathy
• creativity
• experience working with children or youth is an asset

While many graduates find satisfying and rewarding employment within the school system, there are also opportunities in other institutional settings offering education as part of the programming. Placement in the final semester can lead to employment for graduates--some may even be offered a job before graduating.

Plan to spend approximately $700 for books and supplies.

Being an educational assistant is a physically demanding job. You will be required to demonstrate the ability to meet physical demands of the job before a school board will make you an offer of employment.

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.

• 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 (Advanced Standing) must meet the following requirements:

• Ontario College Diploma or University Degree or equivalent

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)