ECE Diploma for Family Home Providers

This program is made possible by contributions received through the Canada-Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Agreement coordinated by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Welcome!

Jane Norman College has a long history of preparing students for meaningful careers in the human services field. We are excited to be partnering with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) to offer a pilot program that allows Family Home Providers to earn their ECE Diploma while continuing to work.

Jane Norman College is the approved provider for this newly designed Post Secondary Early Childhood Education Diploma Program for Family Home Providers, licensed by the Nova Scotia Department of Advanced Education (DAE) and the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). The Jane Norman College Program was developed by our curriculum team who have over 30 years of teaching experience in adult and post-secondary education. Offered part-time in an online setting the 24 required courses will be delivered over the course of 2 years

Core Provincial Curriculum Standards

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recognizes the evolution in the role of the Family Home Provider in Nova Scotia over the last number of years and the high demand across the Province for well-trained individuals to meet the child care needs of families across the province. It is recognized that Family Home Providers would benefit from access to a part-time ECE Diploma Program that would allow participants to continue to work in and operate family homes. This pilot project has been developed to provide that opportunity.

The program incorporates both theory and practice through the use of the remote classroom, selfdirected study and practicum placements in your own home. ECE Diploma Program outcomes are determined by the Department of Education and Early Childhood and are intended to prepare early childhood education graduates with the knowledge, competencies, and skills to fulfill the requirements of an ECE. Upon completion graduates will have the necessary competencies and skills to deliver ECE programming consistent with the provincial standards.

Admission Criteria:

Grade 12 or GED equivalent
Be working a minimum of 15 hours per week in a FHCC program or licensed child care throughout the duration of the pilot program
Have a minimum of 2 years experience working in FHCC programs, licensed childcare or Pre-primary (minimum of 1080 hours in the year prior to applying)
Demonstrate proficiency in English
Applicants will require sufficient knowledge of computers and technology (word processing, send and check emails, web browsing skills)

Agency to provide:

Letter of verification from FHCC Agency or childcare employer that supports the student’s participation in the program and commits to supporting them in their workplace practicum Experiences
Submission of a clear Child Abuse Registry check and Vulnerable Sector check

Time to Complete Program: The learner will have no more than 2 years to complete this program after the start date.

Graduation Completion: Learners who successfully complete the prescribed program will receive a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Jane Norman College.

Delivery Method

*Remote Face to Face Classroom Delivery (18 of 24 courses)

Instructors will use an online platform (Google Classroom) to deliver each class in real time.
Students must be present (visible) during each hour of class to be marked present for the corresponding hour.
Students will engage with others and must be able to participate (have working video and audio).
Activities/group work/presentation are part of the remote learning classroom.
The course instructor will provide assessment/ feedback.

*Remotely delivered Self-Directed Study (6 of 24 courses)

Students will in their own time over a 4 week period access the Google Classroom to engage in readings/questions/reflections and assignments independently.
Information is self-study and will be released weekly with instructions and due dates for the required assignments.
Self-Directed Study courses will have a timeline for completion.
The Pilot Coordinator for the pilot program will provide assessment feedback and marking.

Program Delivery Schedule

24 months schedule: June 6, 2023 – June 5, 2025

18 face to face online and 6 self-directed study courses

Face to Face – focus on 1 course at a time (1 course over 5 weeks). Each course: 10 Tuesday & Thursday nights, 6:00-9:00 pm

Self-Directed Study courses – over a 10-week time period.

15 break weeks

YEAR 1

	Face-to-Face Online	Self-Directed Study
June 6 – July 6	ECE 201 Family Engagement Practices	COM 100 Professional Communication
July 10 – 14	1 Week Break
July 18 – Aug 17	HD 100 Human Development: Theories and Trends	Continued: COM 100 Professional Communication
Aug 21 – 25	1 Week Break
Aug 29 – Sept 28	ECE 101 Early Childhood Program Development
Oct 3 – Nov 2	ECE105 The Emergent Classroom	HD 200 Human Development: Conception to 3
Nov 6 -10	1 Week Break
Nov 14 – Dec 14	ECE 108 Observation and Documentation	Continued: HD 200 Human Development: Conception to 3
Dec 18 – Jan 5, 2024	3 Week Break
Jan 9 – Feb 8	HD 201 Human Development: PS and School Age
Feb 13 – Mar 14	ECE 200 Play and Learning
Mar 18 – 22	1 Week Break
Mar 26 – Apr 25	ECE 204 Language and Literacy	COM101 Professional Literature
Apr 30 – May 30	ECE 102 Promoting Social and Emotional Competence	COM101 Professional Literature
June 3 – 7	One Week Break

YEAR 2

	Face-to-Face Online	Self-Directed Study
June 11 – July 11	COM 201 Critical Issues	ECE103 Health and Safety in Early Childhood Settings
July 15 – 19	1 week break
July 23 – Aug 22	COM 200 Professional Research Methods	Continued: ECE103 Health and Safety in Early Childhood Settings
Aug 26 – 30	1 week break
Sept 3 – Oct 3	ECE 202 Promoting Inclusion in the Early Years	ECE106 Nutrition for Young Children
Oct 8 – Nov 7	ECE 107 Music and Movement Experiences	ECE106 Nutrition for Young Children
Nov 11 – 15	1 week break
Nov 19 – Dec 19	ECE 203 Child Guidance
Dec 20 – Jan 10, 2025	3 week break
Jan 14 – Feb 13	ECE 100 Visual and Tactile Experiences	ECE205 Skills for Life and Work
Feb 18 – Mar 20	ECE 206 Creating Inviting Learning Spaces	ECE205 Skills for Life and Work
Mar 24 – 28	1 Week Break
Apr 1 – May 1	ECE 207 Inclusive Practices in the Early Years
May 6 – June 5	ECE 104 The Early Childhood Profession

Technology Requirements for Remote/Online Learning

Minimum Technical Requirements
Jane Norman College has identified the following minimum technical requirements needed for students to successfully access remote/online learning:

Operating System PC/Laptop (Windows 10 or higher)
Chromebook (OS version 97 or higher)
Mac (iOS version)

Web Browser Google Chrome (recommended)
Firefox
Microsoft Edge

Internet speed 10MB or higher download, 5MB or higher upload

Required Accessories
Video Camera, Microphone and Speaker (headset recommended)
Face to face remote courses feature live online meetings using webinar software. While many PCs are equipped with video cameras, speakers and a microphone, using headphones with an attached microphone for these sessions is recommended if there may be distractions in your environment.

Self-Directed study courses require students to access information in the Google Classroom and may involve viewing and listening to videos online.

Scanner or Camera
Students may need to provide images of physical work completed. A compatible scanner or a mobile device equipped with a camera may also be acceptable.

Google Email Account
A google email account is recommended for seamless access to the Google Classroom and associated applications. Students are encouraged to create a dedicated Google account to be used for all College correspondence and to access the Google Classroom. To create a google account follow the directions as listed on the Google Support Page:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en

If you have any questions about technological requirements for this program please contact the Jane Norman College at info@janenorman.ca.

The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.