Capilano College Child Care Centre - Canada

Program

  • Type of Program: Child Care Centre and Post Secondary Program
  • Age Served: Infants, toddlers and preschoolers
  • Funding Sources: Educational system and parent fees
  • Presenter: Pritti Mistry, Rosslyn Anne, Janet MacDonald and Jen Moses (ECCE Educators and Faculty Members)
  • Address: 2055 Purcell Way
    North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7J 3H5
  • Telephone: 604-986-1911 local 4950
  • Fax: 604-984-4985
  • Email: [email protected]

Program Purpose

To provide a high quality childcare program and to prepare teachers who practice the Reggio Emilia philospophy.

Program Description

The Capilano College Child Care Centre and the Early Childhood Care and Education program work together to incorporate Reggio Emilia principles into their programs. The Child Care Centre provides care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers to parents in the community and to faculty, staff and students on the campus.

The ECCE faculty supports students to prepare themselves to work with children in an inclusive preschool/daycare setting (including infant and toddler care.) Our ECCE team teaches students to observe children closely, document what they see and hear by using cameras, tape recorders and videos. The focus of the teachers is to talk, listen and question children about what they are doing and creating and to help co-construct and negotiate the direction of their curriculum.

The Child Care Centre is used as a "laboratory school" to provide students a centre in which to practice their teaching skills during three (3) and five (5) week practica. The faculty and students join with the Child Care Centre staff and children for a four (4) hour weekly program in a college classroom. During this time, the students set up an environment to reflect the philosophy they are studying in order to interact with children and learn about their interests and to create a curriculum negotiated with the children.

This part of the program has proven to be a stimulating and exciting experience for both faculty, students and child care staff, and, most importantly, for the children.

Most Unique Program Feature

Clearly, the most important feature of our program is the collaboration between the ECCE faculty, students and the staff of the Child Care Centre. We are all committed to finding new ways to provide excellent care and programming for children.

Edited by Michael Kalinowski