Early Childhood Education Resource Consulting

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Courses - May 2025

Level 1

Course details

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Supporting Atypical Development
ECE8200

Description:

This course introduces students to early learning pedagogy and play-based strategies as the cornerstones of supporting atypical development. Through a lens of inclusive early learning, students will examine and analyze characteristics consistent with typical and atypical development in order to recommend program adaptations that build on children’s strengths and abilities. In addition, students will utilize observation skills and screening tools in order to recommend policies and practices that promote meaningful and maximum early learning participation of children living with special needs.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Adapting and Modifying Curriculum Practices
ECE8210

Description:

This course highlights the importance of working in consultation with others in order to support children living with special needs. Students will be introduced to Family Service Plans as the consultation platform that integrates perspectives from families, early learning educators, health professionals and community service providers in order to adapt and modify curriculum practices. They will examine early learning environments and create a plan that recommends strategies, adaptations and modifications that promote the benefits of inclusive learning and development of children living with special needs, and evaluates these recommendations. In addition, students will develop a proposal of how they plan to communicate this information to the full Family Service team.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Evidence Informed Decision Making
ECE8220

Description:

This course examines how research, current legislation and regulations, and ethical and professional standards impact evidence informed practices of resource consultants. Students will compare and contrast a variety of observation and screening tools, family engagement models and learning strategies in order to understand their impact and advise families and early learning educators. They will reflect on professional knowledge and develop a plan for further learning related to early childhood pedagogy and inclusive practices.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Field Placement 1 (ECE Resource Consulting)
FPLT8405

Description:

This field placement experience introduces students to the work of ECE resource consulting. Building on prior skills and knowledge, students will examine current legislation, policies and evidence-informed practices and reflect on how the role of the RECE and ECE Resource Consultant complement each other to support children living with special needs and their families. They will demonstrate collaborative professional practices as they promote and advocate inclusive policies and environments. In consultation with the service team, students will select, administer and interpret observation techniques and screening tools in order to contribute information to the Family Service Plan. In addition, they will recommend program adaptations and modifications that demonstrate the principles of early learning pedagogy and inclusive play-based early learning practices, empower parents as decision-makers, and reflect on the effectiveness of those strategies.

  • Hours: 192
  • Credits: 7
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Description: This course focuses on developing awareness and skills for the student to safely manage and conduct him or herself within a variety of employment settings. Through the units of the course, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of general Health and Safety guidelines, including WHMIS, Fire Safety and Workplace Violence. The unit on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will instruct the student on the requirements for Accessible Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulations. General information on Safe Driving, Privacy of Information and Hand Washing will be addressed as well. The course also provides participants with critical information regarding their insurance coverage (WSIB or other) while employed. As well as guidelines to follow in the event of an injury. Participants will receive a printable Record of Completion upon successful conclusion of this course, in order to demonstrate awareness of safe working practices to their employers.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Working with Others Through Professional Engagement
ECE8230

Description:

Through a range of interactive, community-based learning opportunities, this course will examine methodologies and strategies to engage others in the consultation process to support families, early learning educators, and other community professionals. Students will apply adult learning principles to plan, deliver and evaluate educational opportunities for families, early learning educators and community professionals in supporting the healthy development of children living with diverse abilities. In addition, students will identify and critique organizational practices and create a consultation plan to engage stakeholders in the development of a shared philosophy of inclusion.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ECE8200 OR OLRN8330 AND ECE8210 OR OLRN8320
  • CoRequisites:

Empowering Families Through Strength-Based Approaches
ECE8240

Description:

This course emphasizes the reciprocal partnership between the families of children living with diverse abilities and the service team within the community. Students will examine the structural, cultural, and developmental diversities of families in order to empower them as the primary support for their children’s learning and development. Working in collaboration with the family and the service team, students will demonstrate strategies that engage in family-centered and strength-based decision making regarding the learning and development of the child. In addition, the students will research community resources and learn to make referrals and advise families.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: FPLT8250 OR FPLT8400 OR FPLT8405
  • CoRequisites:

Field Placement 2 (ECE Resource Consulting)
FPLT8415

Description:

This field placement experience extends the students’ understanding of the role of the ECE Resource Consultant. Working as a member of the service team, students act in accordance with legislative regulations, agency policies and professional standards. They will demonstrate family-centred strategies as they guide families to navigate potential supports and services and make recommendations that support the healthy development of children living with special needs. Through the use of reciprocal communication and evidence-informed practices, they will apply the principles of adult learning in order to co-ordinate and facilitate case management meetings, educational opportunities and referral discussions. They will reflect upon their consultation practices, evaluate strengths and challenges, and create a plan for further professional development.

  • Hours: 192
  • Credits: 7
  • Pre-Requisites: ECE8200 AND ECE8210 AND ECE8220 AND FPLT8400 OR FPLT8405 AND OHS1320
  • CoRequisites: ECE8230 AND ECE8240

Program outcomes

  1. Build and maintain responsive relationships and partnerships with children with special needs and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds including Indigenous peoples’ worldviews and Francophone identity, to provide culturally relevant early learning opportunities, programs and services.
  2. Recommend, discuss and plan, in partnership with families and early childhood educators, inquiry and play-based early learning program adaptations to accommodate and support learning, holistic development and well-being in children with special needs.
  3. Advise and lead early childhood educators and children’s service partners in the development of a philosophy of inclusion and policies and practices that support diverse, equitable and accessible learning opportunities for children with special needs and their families.
  4. Administer observation strategies and screening tools to interpret and document children’s learning and to identify children with challenges and facilitate families’ referrals to resources for further assessment and intervention as necessary.
  5. Collaborate with children, families, early learning educators, health professionals and children’s service partners to facilitate the planning, co-ordination and evaluation of individualized support plans for children with special needs.
  6. Plan, deliver and evaluate strength-based training to children, families, early childhood educators and children’s service partners to support quality, inclusive early years and child care programs and services for children with special needs and families.
  7. Provide consultation, service coordination and referral support to families, early childhood educators and children’s service partners to support communication, collaboration and continuity of services for children with special needs and families.
  8. Comply with current legislation, regulations, policies and evidence-informed practices in early years and child care settings to provide quality early learning programs and services for children with special needs and their families.
  9. Advocate for inclusive, meaningful and purposeful early learning opportunities and services for children with special needs, their families and communities.