Relationships
We create a community of learners by building close, nurturing relationships between children, parents, educators and students. We also help each child build a strong, confident relationship with the awe-inspiring world around them.
Respect
We respect each child as a unique individual and encourage them to ask questions, explore new possibilities, and act on what they learn. We support each child as they learn to respect not only the materials they use, but also everything and everyone around them.
Potential
We know each child is a strong, capable learner. We discover what the child knows and wants to know, then respond to that potential through our curriculum. We also recognize the potential of families, educators and students as co-learners, co-researchers and co-imaginers of possibility.
Play
We believe play helps us understand how children learn, explore their world and respond to everyday life. Through play, children become flexible, adaptable and resilient, building a foundation for lifelong social and emotional health.
The centre is run and supported by the following partnerships with the MacEwan University Early Learning and Child Care program and the Faculty of Health and Community Studies.
Early Childhood Educators
- All permanent staff are certified as Child Development Supervisors, the highest level of certification granted by Alberta Child and Youth Services.
- Early childhood educators at our centre are well prepared academically and professionally.
- Staff education levels range from two year diplomas in Early learning and Child Care to master’s degrees in Education in Early Childhood.
- Our educators engage in regular professional development and work closely with the faculty of Early Learning and Child Care to ensure they are up-to-date on emerging theories and best-practice standards.
Students
- MacEwan University students are an integral part of the life of the centre.
- Children at the centre have regular opportunities to participate in exciting play experiences that are set up by Early Learning and Child Care students as part of their course work. An early childhood educator in the room supervises all students.
- An exciting component of MacEwan University’s student involvement is the student-led play workshops held by students in the Early Learning and Child Care and Therapist Assistant: Speech Language Pathologist Assistant programs.
Faculty
- Faculty from the Early Learning and Child Care program provide mentorship and guidance to the child care team, and conduct research projects in the centre.
- Early childhood educators and faculty often give presentations to other professionals, as well as community members. Photos and/or videos of the children are used in these presentations.
- Families will be asked for permission and informed when these presentations or research projects are taking place.
The role of the university is to support the Early Learning and Child Care program in proving mentorship and guidance to our team of early childhood educators. There is an advisory committee for the centre, which is a subcommittee of the Early Learning and Child Care program advisory committee.
Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee members include:
- Director, Child Care Centre
- Program Chair, Early Learning and Child Care
- One early childhood educator from the centre
- One Early Learning and Child Care faculty member
- Two parents
- Two representatives of the Early Learning and Child Care Program Advisory Committee
- One student representative from the Early Learning and Child Care student program advisory committee
Documentation
Documentation of the children’s daily experiences is an essential component of the program. Early childhood educators and university students participate in documenting the children’s experiences on a regular basis through traditional observational recordings, as well as digital photography and video audio recording. Children’s thoughts, ideas and expressions and development are captured by the documentation.
Documentation assists early childhood educators in planning for the children and helps them develop goals for each child. Documentation is also a way to communicate with parents and the community about the work of the children and the centre.
Accreditation
In addition to meeting the licensing requirements for child care in the Province of Alberta, Early Learning at MacEwan is an accredited centre and adheres to the Quality Standards for Early Learning and Care Services of the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services.
The ten standards for excellence in child care focus on outcomes for children, family, staff and community, and emphasize the importance of strong relationships with children and families and meaningful play as a way of supporting children’s early learning and development. Our centre has successfully met the requirements for accreditation and re-accreditation since 2006.
For more information, visit:
- Accreditation program and the standards
- Alberta government regulations for child care
- Services for parents related to child care
Early Learning at MacEwan (ELM) is one of 100 Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Centres across Alberta.
As part of this three-year pilot program, ELM will receive funding to improve its accessibility and affordability, allowing for fees to be reduced to $25 per day. ELM families can expect monthly, full-time fees to be reduced to $550 per child (no subsidy).
Through this funding, ELM will refocus its efforts in serving the MacEwan Community by ensuring increased accessibility for MacEwan Students to access on campus childcare as rates will be reduced to $25 per day.
More information on the ELCC Centre pilot program
Links and Resources
Early Learning and Child Care Centre grant recipients and fact sheet
Child care in Alberta
Child Care subsidies
