1.3 Early Childhood Education: Structures, Frameworks and Resources

Occupational competencies for Early Childhood Educators have been developed to support building a qualified workforce of Early Childhood Educators. Many post-secondary institutions' programs and government policies are based on these competencies. Before engaging in the provided reflection, read the BC Child Care Sector Occupational Competencies to familiarize yourself with them.  

Now take some time to review the BC First Nations Early Childhood Educator Occupational Standards. 

Reflection

Consider how you might use these competencies to open a discussion with staff about the overall practices happening within your context: 

• Where are the practice strengths in your programming concerning these competencies? 
• What competencies need more attention? 

Review section A-2 of the BC Child Care Sector Occupational Competencies, and read these statements outlining children’s rights: 

1. “Understanding and respecting children’s rights is an essential part of good practice. Practitioners need to understand the concept of inherent rights and the relationship between rights and responsibilities.”

2. "Children’s right to participate in decisions that affect them, to their maximum developmental capacity"

Consider:

How is this lived in your centre? What practices demonstrate this competency? 

Look to these examples for inspiration: 

References

Aboriginal Child Care Society. (2018). BC First Nations' early childhood educator occupational standards. https://www.acc-society.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Occupational-Standards-pr13-PRINT.pdf

British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education. (2001). Childcare sector occupational competencies.  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/early-learning/teach/ece/bc_occupational_competencies.pdf