The Scope of Working Professionals
The importance of the early childhood educator’s involvement in the well-being, learning, and development of children cannot be overstated. The Early Childhood Caregivers Act of 2007 was approved by the Ontario government in May 2007 (College of Early Childhood Educators, n.d.). The College of Early Childhood Educators was founded under the Act and inaugurated in September 2008. Over 58,000 early childhood educators are enrolled with the College, and they play an important role in providing families with regular and excellent child care and early childhood programs (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). The main professional bodies of the College consist of the Leadership Team and College Council. To ensure professional development and to maintain of high standards employed by the College of Early Childhood Educators, the Council is divided into several committees. The scope of their activities is diverse and encompasses the main areas where professionals are working. The Council consists of executive, election, finance, standards of practice, registration, complaints, discipline, and funding counseling committees (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). Here, most importantly is to highlight the focus of several of the committees, where most of the professionals are concentrated.
The Standards of Practice Committee provides policy advice on the Code and professional standards, as well as overseeing the continuing professional education program and producing client resources (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). The Registration Committee provides strategic policy guidance on registration requirements, qualification evaluation, and educational program approval (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). His research focuses on policy choices for a modernized membership structure and registration criteria that reflect the sector’s changing circumstances, particularly in light of the current pandemic. The CECE team plays a key role in offering relevant tools to the profession in order to help them form relationships and communicate across differences in order to create a collaborative learning environment. Furthermore, in light of the typical workload pandemic, college experts undertook critical studies to understand more about the pandemic’s influence on students.
College’s Advocation for the Core Principles of Childcare
The College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) prioritizes children’s well-being, education, and care. Through a child-centered and play-based methodology, CECE fosters children’s love of learning (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). The College values and promotes children’s native and/or traditional languages and cultures, as well as showing a commitment to addressing indigenous children’s and their families’ special rights and needs (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). CECE values each child’s individuality, dignity, and potential. In this framework, college professionals create and maintain environments that encourage children to play and learn while also contributing to a feeling of belonging and general well-being. The main goal is to guarantee that all children and families have a safe and accessible environment (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). CECE also makes certain that the environment represents the community’s beliefs and diversity (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021).
CECE gathers data on children’s relevant family situations and other aspects that may influence the development of their individual and family identities. Workers and volunteers assist youngsters in developing coping skills, self-controlling their behavior, and positively interacting with each other (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). The main principle advocated by CECE is that all children have the potential to self-regulate and that they have the right to be assisted in developing these abilities (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). Most importantly, the College also fosters responsive and collaborative partnerships with families. Mutual trust, transparency, and secrecy are the foundations of these partnerships (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). CECE collaborates with families to deliver information and tools that assist children’s learning and well-being (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). This principle is maintained by providing families significant opportunities to engage in and contribute to their children’s learning environment and experiences.
By displaying respect, trust, and honesty, CECE also fosters excellent connections with coworkers. The staff encourages, advises, and cooperates with coworkers, including students interested in the field. CECE is committed to lifelong learning and reflective practice, and it engages in a professional development activities (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). CECE promotes the progress of the profession in their workplaces and in society at large via its practice and leadership. They understand that their professional behavior contributes to the public’s trust in the profession.
Policies on Membership and Professional Development
CECE proceeded to identify elements for upgrading the College’s membership structure and enrollment standards in order to better represent the sector’s demands. The number of individuals working in this field was officially 58,867 at the end of 2020-2021 (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). 4827 applications were received throughout the year, and 4335 new certificates were awarded. A person who uses the title of Early Childhood Educator (ECE) or Registered Early Childhood Educator must be a member (RECE) (2020-21 Annual Report, 2021). It might also be a person who works in the field of early childhood education. Membership also requires a certificate in Early Childhood Education or work in a certified childcare center under the Child Care and Early Childhood Act (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). An individual member might be a self-employed home child care provider who works within that field.
If a person does not fulfill the education and training standards for college enrollment, he or she is not obligated to have membership (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). A person who works as a teacher or teaching assistant in a school or has been appointed by the Council to a post that needs an early childhood caretaker, for example.
Only members of the College of Early Childhood Educators are permitted to legally conduct early childhood education and use the titles of Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), Early Childhood Educator (ECE), and equivalents (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, 2018). The only correct approach to determine current membership status is to use the College’s public online registration. To authenticate a person’s college enrollment status, parents and employers should always check the public registration, which is available online.
Key Observations
After the investigation aimed at the College of Early Childhood Educators, three key points can be highlighted. First of all, reasonable and prudent management planning. The division of the workload between a huge number of committees facilitates the professionals’ inclusion in the area of their specific area of expertise, while collaboration, required and fostered by the institution, allows the positive development as a whole.
Secondly, the policies employed by the College of Early Childhood Educators in relation to children, families, early childhood educators, and early childhood education and care in general. The College advocates the essential principles in terms of creating the atmosphere for learning, close cooperation with families, and interexchange of experience with colleagues. The College’s policies ensure the constant professional development of the staff and visiting scholars, in addition to a range of educational programs offered. Thirdly, advanced societal and educational approaches are employed by the College. The personnel of the College diversify its practices during the first phases of the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to develop it, especially in terms of membership structure and its policies. Overall, the College of Early Childhood Educators is an excellent example of a professional institution adhering to innovative practices at the same time preserving the core values of childcare.
References
2020-21 Annual Report (2021). College of Early Childhood Educators. Web.
Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (2018). College of Early Childhood Educators. Web.
College of Early Childhood Educators (n.d.). History of the College. Web.