EYCDC January 2024 Newsletter

Happy New Year! 

We hope you had a chance to relax and recharge during the holidays. The EYCDC team welcomes you into 2024 with an array of new and exciting learning resources!

NEW! FREE PD Module: Infant Quality Care (Module 1 of 2)

This training was developed by DEECD in partnership with EYCDC (NSCECE) to support the implementation of the Infant Quality Care Grant. Click here to register. 

A message from DEECD about Infant Quality Care – Module 1 Online

 The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) has established the Infant Quality Care Grant (IQCG) to financially support infant program-related expenses, with a specific focus on enhancing the overall quality of infant care.

 Professional Learning is an essential requirement for the IQCG, serving as a crucial element of high-quality programming. This professional learning module aims to assist educators and care providers in understanding their pivotal role in an infant's social-emotional development. Presented as a self-paced program, this module offers educators and care providers:

 • An opportunity to enhance their understanding of social-emotional development and its unfolding dynamics within caregiving relationships.

 • An opportunity to reflect on how culture influences caregiving, parenting, and the social-emotional development of infants.

 Beginning January 9^th, 2024, Educators and Care Providers can access Infant Quality Care – Module 1 via the link below:

https://eycdc.nscece.com/free-PD

 Infant Quality Care - Module 2 will be available online next year. For those staff who have completed Module 1 and require Module 2 Infant Quality Care PD, they can register via: https://eypdc.ca/learning/early-learning-curriculum-framework/registration/

Staff that have completed both Module 1 and Module 2 are required to develop a Professional Development Plan with a total of six (6) hours of professional development related to their work with infants.

Infant educators are also required to participate in Communities of Practice sessions, hosted by the Department’s Early Childhood Development Consultants in March 2024.

Capable, Confident & Curious: Module 2

Capable, Confident & Curious Module 2: The Image of the Child will be offered in an online session February 5^th & 8^th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Click here to register for Module 2. 

For information about other upcoming Modules being offered, click here.

 Culturally Responsive Practice

The EYCDC has two upcoming sessions of Culturally Responsive Practice in Nova Scotia’s Early Learning and Child Care Settings in January and February 2024. These sessions will be held online via Zoom. The dates for these sessions are as follows:

JANUARY Session:

Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday, January 18th, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Saturday, January 20th, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday, January 25th, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

FEBRUARY Session:

Tuesday, February 13th, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday, February 15th, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Saturday, February 17th, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm

Tuesday, February 20th, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, 6:30pm-8:30pm

 Please remember, you must commit to the entire 12-hour schedule to receive PD credit.

Click here to register for January.

Click here to register for February.

Library

NEW! We have been busy in the EYCDC Library working on an exciting new addition to our collection, Schema Boxes! Each box covers each of the learning schemas with documents and items to inspire educators and children in their care.

We are launching the first three boxes this month with Positioning, Rotation, and Connection.

Positioning Schema (SB 001)

Rotation Schema (SB 003)

Connection Schema (SB 002)

Stop by the library to borrow these books to learn more about play schemas.

Threads of Thinking: Schemas And Young Children's Learning by Cathy Nutbrown (370.15 NUT), Schemas: A Practical Handbook by Lauren England (372.21 ENG), Children's Lively Minds: Schema Theory Made Visible by Deb Curtis (155.4 CUR), Understanding Schemas in Young Children: Again! Again! by Stella Louis (155.5 LOU), Getting Started with Schemas by Nikolien van Wijk (372.21 WIJ)

For more information on our library collection, visit our catalogue or contact us at [email protected].

On-Demand Seminars

To learn more about Schemas, check out our on-demand seminar Illuminating Schemas: Observing and Responding to Patterns of Play with Liz Hicks.

The EYCDC offers an online, on-demand, subscription-based PD platform. Individual memberships start at $10.35 a month and Group Memberships start at $21.85. Each membership includes a 30-day free trial, access to more than 20 hours of PD content, and free access to our Halifax-based Lending Library.

For more information, visit our online PD seminars page: https://eycdc.nscece.com/online-seminar-catalogue-1

Upcoming Certificate and Diploma Programs in 2024

 At NSCECE, we have two programs designed to accommodate folks working in the ECE sector in Nova Scotia. If you have any questions about either of these upcoming programs, please contact Shawna, our Admissions Mentor: [email protected] 

Online ECA Certificate 

January 9, 2024 

• 6:30pm-9:30pm, 2-3 evenings/week 
• Delivered online   
• Two guided workplace experiences  
• Graduate with ECA Certificate (Eligible for Level 1 classification) 
• Level 1 staff are eligible for QIG funding wage contribution 

• Move staff to wage scale and start at $19.67/hour 
• Monthly payment plans available  
• Student loan eligible 

ECE Hybrid Diploma 

March 26, 2024 

• 26 months to complete 
• 6:30 pm-9:30 pm 1-2 evenings/week of live online classes 
• Upon graduation eligible for a Level 2 classification 
• Apply for your level 1 classification one year into the program 

• Four full-day practicum placements  
• 50% asynchronous (self-study, recorded lectures) 
• 50% delivered online 
• Workplace practicum available for those employed in licensed childcare 
• Student loan eligible 
• Eligible for Continuous Education Reimbursement Funding