Early Childhood Educator

Required Experience:

Previous classroom experience 

Key Responsibilities:

The Early Childhood Educator is accountable for the following:

1. Plan, carry out, and assess developmentally appropriate activities and experiences that promote the well-being of each child, and that respect and reflect the diverse needs of children.
   • Provide a daily balance of active/quiet, indoor/outdoor, and individual/group activities.
   • Establish and carry out a daily schedule that incorporates child-directed activity, care routines, and transition times.
   • Organize space, equipment, and materials before activities ensuring adaptations to the environment as required.
   • Assist children in expressing themselves by listening and responding with questions or comments that extend conversations.
   • Use a variety of teaching techniques including modeling, observing, questioning, demonstrating and reinforcing.
   • Encourage and assist children to practice self-help daily.
   • Plan and carry out experiences that foster an understanding of a variety of cultures and value systems.
   • Provide opportunities for child-directed play experiences.
   • Plan and carry out activities that encourage problem solving.
   • Provide experiences and play materials that actively promote anti-racist and non-sexist interactions and attitudes.
      
2. Individualize the curriculum and ensure that all activities are accessible.
   • Observe how children use the materials and interact with each other and with adults.
   • Determine specific times during the day when some children may require extra staffing support.
   • Use observations to expand play and plan activities that recognize individual differences.
   • In collaboration with the Director of Operations, staff team and family, recommend referrals or requests for additional services for children.
   • In collaboration with the staff team and the Director of Operations, ensure that all individual plans are regularly reviewed and revised as needed.
   • Perform assessments of children’s academic development and prepare report cards twice/year.
      
3. Ensure guidance of children's behaviour that encourages positive self-concept.
   • Set reasonable behaviour expectations consistent with the centre’s philosophy and policies.
   • Provide positive guidance such as redirecting, positive language, and positive reinforcement.
   • Immediately address challenging behaviour without labelling a child.
   • Follow behaviour guidance policies established by the centre and consistent with accepted practice in the field.
   • Work cooperatively with the Director of Operations, staff team and community resources to support inclusive practice and address the needs of individual children.
      
4. Ensure the child care environment is healthy and safe for all children.
   • Follow the licensing requirements and the centre’s procedures for maintaining health records and administering medication and first aid.
   • Report all accidents, injuries and illnesses to the Director of Operations or designate and record such incidents in the confidential log book and as a serious incident, if necessary.
   • Monitor the child care facility for hazards and take preventative action as required.
   • Update self on children's allergies, special conditions, or other pertinent information.
   • Establish daily eating routines that are pleasant for the children.
   • Attend to children's physical needs for diapering, toileting, and eating as promptly as possible.
   • Report all incidents or alleged incidents of child abuse as required and follow centre procedures, regional protocols and government legislation.
   • Release children only to authorized persons in accordance with centre policies and licensing requirements.
      
5. Ensure positive communication with parents/legal guardians.
   • Plan for family conferences.
   • Discuss the program's daily events with the families.
   • Accommodate the enrolling parent/legal guardians instructions for daily care routines when possible within the routines established for the group.
   • Encourage families to participate in a variety of meaningful opportunities as they are available and interested.
      
6. Contribute to the ongoing operation of the centre.
   • Follow all licensing requirements.
   • Maintain regular attendance and punctuality.
   • Attend regular staff meetings.
   • Maintain confidentiality regarding all information related to the children, families, and personnel and fulfill obligations to respect protection of privacy.
   • Participate in the annual performance review process and plan and carry out an annual professional development plan as authorized by a Director.
   • Participate in short and long-term planning, evaluation and the annual program review.
   • Other duties as required.

Salary & Benefits:

$25- $30 per hour + benefits.