Early Learning and Child Care Diploma

As an early learning and child care professional, you play an important role in the care, learning and development of children. In the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Diploma program, you will learn to work with newborns to twelve-year-old children in early learning environments and programs. As a graduates of the ELCC diploma, you will transition from supporting children to also supporting their families in their communities. By nurturing each child’s agency and potential within their diverse lived experiences, you can make an impact outside the learning environment. You'll be challenged to recognize your own positionality and practice anti-bias, anti-oppressive approaches that intentionally honour and celebrate each child’s context, family, community, culture and society. The ELCC diploma program can be completed in several different ways. Attend full- or part-time on Red Deer Polytechnic's main campus or through alternate delivery using online courses. This multi-delivery approach is especially useful for working students who are balancing work and home commitments with their education goals. Students in the on-campus delivery option benefit from being on the RDP campus and interacting with their peers. As an ELCC student, you will engage in a variety of learning activities such as cooperative learning, flipped classrooms, readings, assignments, discussions, and reflection exercises that provide opportunities to collaborate, and develop both curiosity and critical thinking skills. Practicum placements are in the Red Deer region.

Three years of full-time education in English in a regular high school or post-secondary credit program: completed within Canada, including the grade 12 year; or completed in an English-speaking country; or completed at a recognized school or institution with English as the primary language of instruction. A 'Medium of Instruction' letter may be requested. Students applying to Early Learning and Child Care must have a minimum of 50percent in - ELA 30-1, or equivalent OR A minimum of 65 percent in ELA 30-2, or equivalent OR A minimum score of 250 on the Reading component, 250 on the Writing component and 5 on the WritePlacer Test.