Applications for this program for the 2025-26 academic year are now closed.
This program is offered through the Building the Future: Opportunities for Early Childhood Educators program. It is open to Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents.
As an administrator or director of an early learning and child care organization, you need to oversee all aspects of the business. Your studies will include an examination of the administrative role in overseeing a safe and developmentally appropriate curriculum for children, supporting, and mentoring staff and creating relationships with families, community partners and other professionals. You will study business, leadership and management procedures as they relate to the operation of high-quality early learning and childcare programs.
To qualify:
- You need an Early Childhood Education diploma or Early Childhood Education Level 3 certification as assessed by the Ministry of Education in Saskatchewan.
- You must be accepted to the Early Childhood Administrator advanced certificate program.
- You need to provide a letter of support from your child care board or child care consultant.
Schedule
Required:
- ECE 110: September 2 – October 24, 2025 (Must pass to move on)
- ECE 111 (Distance): October 27 – December 19, 2025
- ECE 116: October 27– December 19, 2025
- ECE 112 (Distance): January 5 – February 28, 2026
- ECE 113: January 5 – February 28, 2026
- ECE 114 (Distance): March 2 – April 24, 2026
- ECE 115: March 2 – April 24, 2026
Electives (Must take one of four):
- ADMN 220: Date to be determined. This class is run through our Business program, and requires in-person exams.
- ECE 117: April 27 – June 26, 2026
- ECE 118: April 27 – June 26, 2026
- ECE 119: April 27 – June 26, 2026
Course descriptions
Required courses
ECE 110 Administration of Early Learning Programs
You will identify the role and responsibilities of an administrator of early childhood
education. You will apply provincial frameworks and regulations to administrative
assignments. You will promote inclusive programming and develop high-level guiding
philosophies for an early learning child care centre.
ECE 111 Facility Operations for Early Learning Programs
You will study legal and regulatory requirements of operation a child care facility
and apply them to real-world scenarios. You will produce operational policies and
procedures and learn to manage daily operations. You will demonstrate enrolment and
facilities management and use contemporary evaluation tools to assess operations of
existing child care facilities.
ECE 112 Intervention Strategies for Early Childhood Administration
You will examine intervention strategies when working with young children and families.
You will demonstrate positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders and
deescalation of potentially stressful situations. You will learn legal obligations
and intervention strategies for children and families for issues such as food insecurity,
neglect, and abuse.
ECE 113 Human Resources for Early Childhood Administration
You will study legal and ethical considerations for human resources administration
in child care centres. You will examine employee recruitment, hiring, orientation,
training, and retention. You will examine strategies for discipline and termination
standards of professionalism and workplace wellness specific to working with preschool-aged
children. You will complete permanent residency processes to support international
graduates to maintain employment in the child care sector.
ECE 114 Bookkeeping for Early Learning Facilities
You will study regional accounting regulations and apply them to your assignments.
You will operate financial software and perform calculations to balance operational
profit and costs. You will learn strategies to manage payroll and government audits.
ECE 115 Financial Management for Early Childhood Administration
You will expand on your bookkeeping knowledge to examine a range of potential revenue
sources for child care centres. You will learn to calculate standard expenses and
manage a budget for a child care business. You examine strategies for outstanding
debt recovery and demonstrate strategic financial planning. You will research and
compose a funding proposal for a child care facility.
ECE 116 Leadership Skills in Early Childhood Administration
You will examine the Code of Ethics for child care providers to demonstrate leadership
and team building principles in the child care sector. You will advocate for early
learning and child care and plan professional development for child care staff. You
will research, reflect, and develop a personal leadership action plan.
Electives
Must take one of four courses.
ADMN 220 Organizational Behaviour
You will study human behaviour in organizations and develop the skills needed to deal
with people at work. Your studies include content on individual behaviour, values,
interpersonal relationships and communications, groups and team dynamics, organizational
culture, leadership, and change. You will study these aspects of human behavior within
the context of diverse formal organizations.
ECE 117 Managing Multiple Early Learning Sites
You will examine the roles and responsibilities of administrators of multiple sites.
You will compare multi-site governance structures and demonstrate enrolment and facilities
management for multiple child care sites. You will operate multi-site management software,
examine strategic management, and develop a strategic plan for multiple child care
sites.
ECE 118 Autism Spectrum Disorder in Early Childhood Administration
You will study autism spectrum disorder and examine and apply strategies for supportive
environments for individuals and families. You will manage crisis situations and arrange
professional development for staff working with children with autism spectrum disorder.
You will research and compose grant proposals to receive funding for spaces that provide
care to children with diverse abilities.
ECE 119 Trauma-Informed Care in Early Childhood Administration
You will examine types of trauma and analyze the neurobiology of traumatic response
to stress. You will assess attachment styles and evaluate strategies for trauma-informed
care. You will analyze the role of self-care for staff working with children with
trauma.
Technology requirements
Students are required to have:
- A laptop (10 GB or more free space) with a webcam
- Operating systems: Windows 8 or 10, Mac- OS X Yosemite or higher
Apply now
Registration is closed as all cohorts are full. If you would like to be put on the future interest list, please complete the Early Childhood Administrator interest form.
