When you enter into a career as an early childhood educator (ECE), you spend each day nurturing and helping to shape the lives of children and have the rewarding opportunity to watch them grow confidence in themselves. For sisters Julia and Cassidy McNaughton, attending RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Education Workplace program to become certified ECEs has brought their lives and careers full circle.

As young children Julia and Cassidy both attended Learning & Growing Daycare Inc. – Julia has fond memories about feeling joy when hiding or stacking blocks, and being encouraged to be curious, while Cassidy remembers the strong, positive impression the child care staff left on her. Those happy memories and impressions brought them back to Learning & Growing to work as summer employees in 2020. Julia was the first to realize that early childhood education was a career she could see herself in for the long term and enrolled in the program that fall, with Cassidy joining the program the very next semester.

“I wanted to deepen my knowledge and gain additional skills to better understand and connect with the children under my care. That’s why I decided to enrol in the ECE Workplace program at RRC Polytech,” says Julia, who graduated from the program in spring 2023.

RRC Polytech is the largest trainer of early childhood educators in the province and the ECE Workplace program was developed by the College and is unique to Manitoba. It is an accelerated program, which allows experienced child care assistants (CCAs) working in licensed child care programs across Manitoba to remain employed while obtaining the specialized skills needed to be an ECE Level II. While attending the program, students continue to work three days per week in their child care centre, while still receiving a full-time salary.

“Being able to work in my centre while going to school has been extremely helpful to me and my education. I am a hands-on learner and having the chance to apply the knowledge and skills I learned in school within the same week has enabled me to hold onto that knowledge and put it to practice right away.”

Cassidy, completing the program in December 2023

Learning & Growing Daycare Inc. executive director Cathy Gardiner says the benefits for employees to take the ECE Workplace program include better support for children and their families, and overall growth for centres who support their staff’s professional development.

“I have seen ECEs blossom into confident, creative and self-assured early childhood educators. As students make their way through the program, I get to see this progression firsthand. I get to have conversations with them about what they are learning and sometimes they even challenge and influence my way of thinking,” says Gardiner. “They bring new and fresh ideas to the centre and challenge us to try new things and consider a different perspective. It truly is inspiring and refreshing!”

Courses in the program range from communications strategies, to diversity and inclusion, child development, play-based curriculum, nutrition and health, professional behaviour and more. Students graduate with confidence and leadership skills, and with a new understanding about how to support individual children from different backgrounds.

“One of the most impactful lessons I learned was about guiding behaviours. I gained valuable insights into utilizing appropriate guidance techniques, language, and creating an environment that fosters children’s coping skills during various developmental challenges.”

Julia, 2023 Early Childhood Education Workplace Grad

Now equipped with the skills and expertise they obtained to become ECEs, Julia and Cassidy both plan to have lifelong careers in early childhood education, and take on more opportunities to learn and grow in their field.

“I know that enrolling in this program was the right choice for me,” says Cassidy. “The patience, warmth and passion of the RRC Polytech instructors surpassed my expectations. They are kind and passionate about what they do and they work hard with each of us so that we can achieve our goals and build our skills in a way that works for us. I am so excited to work in a field where I can truly see and feel the difference that I make in these children’s lives each and every day!”

RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Education Workplace program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 intakes. With expanded programming, students can complete the training in consecutive terms in as few as 16 months, or up to two years. To be eligible for this program, students must currently be working at a licensed child care centre or family child care home in Manitoba, and have at least six months of full-time work experience.

Students who complete the Early Childhood Education Workplace program are eligible for a tuition reimbursement from the Province of Manitoba, up to $5,000 per year of studies.

Updated to include information about the Winter 2024 term.