Early Childhood Education

Toddlers learn more between the block corner and the sandbox than most adults realise, and early childhood educators are the ones who plan that learning. Assiniboine’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma is a two-year programme that prepares you to provide quality early learning and child care for children from infancy to 12 years. This listing is for Assiniboine’s Neepawa site, where a January 2027 start is shown.

Year one builds your understanding of children through Infant and Toddler Development, Preschool Development, Children’s Health & Well-Being, Family Dynamics and Guiding Young Children, with Overview of Early Learning, Art, Literature and Play, Indigenous Perspectives, Communication Essentials and Professional Practice. Year two turns that into programme planning with Curriculum Development, Teaching Strategies, Creative Play and Design, Science Through Play, Music & Movement Through Play, Language and Emerging Literacy, School Age Development, Inclusion in Early Learning, Building Partnerships and The Reflective Professional.

Practice is built into both years. Applied Practical Skills 1 is a six-week field experience of at least 260 hours, and Applied Practical Skills 2 extends to ten weeks and another 260 hours in early learning settings, which is why current vulnerable sector and child abuse registry checks are required. Along the way you complete Commit to Kids online training and MCCA Ethics Training Levels 1 and 2. Graduates are eligible for Manitoba classification as an Early Childhood Educator Level 2 (ECE II), can continue to Assiniboine’s Early Childhood Program Management advanced diploma (ECE III), and can pursue Brock University’s online Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Honours degree.

ECE graduates work in early learning centres, nursery schools, school division programmes, in-home childcare and child and family service agencies. Roles include early childhood educator, preschool teacher, infant and toddler room lead, school age programme worker and family support worker. The diploma suits warm, creative people who enjoy planning play-based learning and working closely with families in a rural community such as Neepawa.