ECE Diploma for Family Home Providers

Welcome!

Jane Norman College has a long history of preparing students for meaningful careers in the human services field. We are excited to be partnering with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) to offer a second intake of our program that allows Family Home Providers to earn their ECE Diploma while continuing to work.

Jane Norman College is the approved provider for this newly designed Post Secondary Early Childhood Education Diploma Program for Family Home Providers, licensed by the Nova Scotia Department of Advanced Education (DAE) and the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). The Jane Norman College Program was developed by our curriculum team who have over 30 years of teaching experience in adult and post-secondary education. Offered part-time in an online setting the 24 required courses will be delivered over the course of 2 years.

Tuition, student fees, and textbooks are fully covered through funding from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

All students are required to complete two consecutive weeks of Practicum off-site in a licensed child care centre, during their third Practicum (second year, semester 1). Any costs associated with this requirement will be covered by the student. (e.g. travel to the off-site location, hiring of a substitute, closing their FHCC home, etc.). After successful completion of the off-site Practicum, students will receive a $750.00 honorarium.

Core Provincial Curriculum Standards

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recognizes the evolution in the role of the Family Home Provider in Nova Scotia over the last number of years and the high demand across the Province for well-trained individuals to meet the child care needs of families across the province. It is recognized that Family Home Providers would benefit from access to a part-time ECE Diploma Program that would allow participants to continue to work in and operate family homes. This program has been developed to provide that opportunity.

The program incorporates both theory and practice through the use of the remote classroom, self-directed study and practicum placements in your own home. ECE Diploma Program outcomes are determined by the Department of Education and Early Childhood and are intended to prepare early childhood education graduates with the knowledge, competencies, and skills to fulfill the requirements of an ECE. Upon completion, graduates will have the necessary competencies and skills to deliver ECE programming consistent with the provincial standards. 

 Admission Criteria:

• Grade 12 or GED equivalent.
• Be working a minimum of 15 hours per week with a FHCC Agency throughout the duration of the program.
• Have a minimum of 2 years experience by the start of the program (Sept. 5, 2025) working in FHCC programs, licensed childcare or Pre-primary (minimum of 1080 hours in the year prior to applying).
• Reside in Nova Scotia and hold either Canadian Citizenship or legal Permanent Resident status.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English. (A writing sample is required by all students; instructions on completing the sample will be sent after you apply. Additional testing may be required on a case-by-case basis.)
• Clear Vulnerable Sector and Child Abuse Registry checks.
• Proof of First Aid Certification.
• Applicants will require sufficient knowledge of computers and technology (word processing, send/check emails, web browsing skills, etc.).
• Verification letter from the FHCC Agency, confirming the student’s years of experience, and that the Agency is committing to supporting the student’s participation in the program. Click this link to download the template: Letter of Support Template

Time to Complete Program: The learner will have no more than 2 years to complete this program after the start date.

Graduation Completion: Learners who successfully complete the prescribed program will receive a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Jane Norman College and can apply for Level 2 Classification under the Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulations.

Disclaimer: All documents must be submitted before your application will be considered. All applicants may not be accepted. Individual acceptance may depend on the Agency’s capacity to support students.

Delivery Method

*Remote Face to Face Classroom Delivery (18 of 24 courses)

• Instructors will use an online platform (Google Classroom) to deliver each class in real time.
• Students must be present (visible) during each hour of class to be marked present for the corresponding hour. (Cameras must be turned on).
• Students will engage with others and must be able to participate (have working video and audio).
• Activities/group work/presentation are part of the remote learning classroom.
• The course instructor will provide assessment/ feedback.

*Remotely delivered Self-Directed Study (6 of 24 courses)

• Students will in their own time over a 10 week period access the Google Classroom to engage in readings/questions/reflections and assignments independently.
• Information is self-study and will be released weekly with instructions and due dates for the required assignments.
• Self-Directed Study courses will have a timeline for completion.
• The Pilot Coordinator for the pilot program will provide assessment feedback and marking.

Program Delivery Schedule

24 months schedule: September 2, 2025 – September 9, 2027

18 face to face online and 6 self-directed study courses

• • Face to Face – 1 course at a time, over a 5 week period
    • 10 Tuesday & Thursday nights, 6:00-9:00 pm.
    • Some face-to-face courses will run concurrently with a self-directed course
  • Self-Directed Study courses – 1 course at a time, over a 10-week time period each
    • Will run concurrently with face-to-face courses

4 Practicum Blocks – running concurrently with all course work.

• • Practicum blocks are scheduled for approximately 6 months each, but each student is only required to complete 4 weeks of Practicum during each block. The 6 months for each Practicum allows time so that the FHCC ECE Program Coordinator and the FHCC Agencies do not have all 30 students completing their Practicum at the same time. The FHCC ECE Program Coordinator will contact each student to schedule their Practicums.

You can view the complete Program Delivery Schedule by clicking this link: FHCC Program Delivery Schedule

Technology Requirements for Remote/Online Learning

Minimum Technical Requirements
Jane Norman College has identified the following minimum technical requirements needed for students to successfully access remote/online learning:

Operating System:

• PC/Laptop (Windows 10 or higher)
• Chromebook (OS version 97 or higher)
• Mac (iOS version)

Web Browser:

• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

Internet speed 10MB or higher download, 5MB or higher upload

Required Accessories
Video Camera, Microphone and Speaker (headset recommended)
Face to face remote courses feature live online meetings using webinar software. While many PCs are equipped with video cameras, speakers and a microphone, using headphones with an attached microphone for these sessions is recommended if there may be distractions in your environment.

Self-Directed study courses require students to access information in the Google Classroom and may involve viewing and listening to videos online.

Scanner or Camera
Students may need to upload physical work completed. A compatible scanner or a mobile device with a scanner app is recommended, but photos may also be acceptable.

Google Email Account
A google email account is required for seamless access to the Google Classroom and associated applications. All students must create a Google email account prior to the program starting if they do not already have one. Students are encouraged to create a dedicated Google account to be used for all College correspondence and to access the Google Classroom. To create a google account follow the directions as listed on the Google Support Page:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en

If you have any questions about technological requirements for this program please contact the Jane Norman College at info@janenorman.ca.

The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policy of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.