Early Childhood Education (ECE) | Student Program Information

ECE Field Placement Requirements

Seneca students will adhere to the expectations of the College of Early Childhood Education Policy Statement Regarding Practicum. The total amount of time that students spend in practicum is at least 500 hours. This is an absolute minimum and programs are expected to require students to complete more practicum hours.

Below are the field placement requirements under the new ECE Program Map. To view your placement requirements, you can align the semester with the term date. 

The highlighted block are when the new program map changes will come into effect. It is important to discuss any questions with the Field Placement team and/or Student Adviser before making changes to your academic timetable.

ECE106: Preparation for Early Learning and Care Practice 

This course prepares Early Childhood Education (ECE) students for their upcoming field placements in early learning settings which are scheduled for semesters 2, 3, and 4. Emphasizing the importance of professional behaviour and ethical practice, students will learn to engage safely and effectively with young children and their families as well as community partners and mentors. Students are expected to demonstrate their readiness for placement by exhibiting professional behavior in the classroom, lab studios, and forest school. This includes attending regularly, being punctual, actively participating in group activities, and maintaining professional communication with the Field Liaison and Lab Educators.
Through a combination of seminars, lab studio activities, and practical experiences in Seneca's forest school, students will develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in their field placements. Completion of the compulsory Ministry authorization documents and the required Field Placements preparation steps are mandatory for success in this course.

ECE106 Requirements:

Attendance in seminar class; participation on webinars/asynchronous learning; Lab Studio Visit and Forest School Visit. 

This is a pre-requisite course for ECE213 and ECE216.

ECE216: Field Placement: Preschool Environments 

• Pre-req: ECE106
• Co-req: ECE213

Field placement gives students the opportunity to practice what they have learned in the ECE program. Students will plan, implement, and evaluate play-based, inclusive, emergent curriculum experiences for preschool children. 

ECE216 Requirements:

Attendance in seminar class. 

ECE316: Field Placement: Infant and Toddler Environments 

• Pre-req: ECE216, ECE112
• Co-req: ECE313

Students will be placed in sites where they will be able to integrate learning from all their classes. They will have the opportunity to practice skills required for the care and teaching of children birth to 3 years.

ECE316 Requirements:

Attendance in seminar class. 

ECE 416: Field Placement: School Age Environments

• Pre-req: ECE216, ECE316
• Co-req: ECE413

Students will be placed with school-aged children (ages 4 to 12 years).

There are two types of placements:

Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK): Students will go to placement 2 full days per week. 

After School Program: Students will go to placement 3 half days per week.

Placement Assignment

Students cannot choose the placement type.

The placement (FDK or After School Program) will be based on what is available and student location.

Schedule

Students in ECE 416 timetable will have 2 full days and 1 half day blocked off on their schedule.

Once students get their placement, they will know the exact hours. These hours will be within the blocked time.

Both experiences are valuable and will help you grow your skills and knowledge, aligning with the CECE regulations.

ECE416 Requirements:

Attendance in seminar class. 

Or