Early Childhood Educator - Special Needs

Work site environment

• Outdoors
• Noisy
• Non-smoking
• Air conditioned

Work setting

• Child care centre

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Bathe, diaper and feed infants and toddlers
• Develop and implement child-care programs that support and promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
• Storytelling
• Assist early childhood educators in carrying out programs that promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
• Assist early childhood educators or supervisors in keeping records
• Encourage children to express creativity through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical activity
• Engage children in activities by telling stories, teaching songs and preparing crafts
• Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
• Maintain daycare equipment and assist in housekeeping and cooking duties
• Prepare snacks and arrange rooms or furniture for lunch and rest periods
• Observe children for signs of potential learning or behavioural problems and prepare reports for parents, guardians or supervisor
• Submit written observations on children to early childhood educators or supervisors
• Discuss progress and problems of children at staff meetings
• Establish guidelines for behaviour
• Assess the abilities, interests and needs of children and discuss progress or problems with parents and other staff members
• Attend staff meetings to discuss progress and problems of children
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with co-workers and community service providers working with children
• Plan and maintain an environment that protects the health, security and well-being of children
• Plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
• Supervise and co-ordinate activities of other early childhood educators and early childhood educator assistants

Supervision

• 1 to 2 people
• 5-10 people

Credentials

Certificates, licences, memberships, and courses 

• First Aid Certificate
• CPR Certificate

Experience and specialization

Target audience

• Children

Experience with special needs children

• Children with a physical disability
• Children with an intellectual disability
• Children with behavioural issues
• Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD)

Area of specialization

• Pre-school education

Additional information

Security and safety

• Child Abuse Registry check
• Vulnerable sector check

Transportation/travel information

• Own transportation
• Public transportation is available

Work conditions and physical capabilities

• Repetitive tasks
• Physically demanding
• Attention to detail
• Combination of sitting, standing, walking
• Bending, crouching, kneeling
• Manual dexterity

Personal suitability

• Punctuality
• Dependability
• Efficient interpersonal skills
• Excellent oral communication
• Excellent written communication
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal awareness
• Judgement
• Reliability
• Team player
• Values and ethics
• Creativity
• Honesty
• Ability to multitask