Early Childhood Educator

The educator is part of a team of professional individuals whose goal is to provide a safe learning environment for children. As a team, they work together to help the children grow emotionally, socially, cognitively and physically in a variety of educational ways. The foremost concerns at all times are the needs and the well being of each child as an individual. As a professional, it is the job of the educator to fulfill these objectives with respect to our Centre’s philosophy, policies and procedures.

**Position summary**:
¨ Is responsible to and reports to the Directors

¨ Cares for each child’s educational development, personal hygiene, health, safety and well-being (social, emotional, psychological, intellectual, and physical) in accordance with the Center’s philosophy, policies and procedures.

¨ Establishes and maintains a cooperative relationship with the Directors, colleagues and parents.

¨ Contributes to the smooth functioning of the Center.

¨ Maintains confidentiality

**THE EDUCATOR IN RELATION TO THE CHILD**

¨ Provides and practices the promotion of offering children a healthy, clean, nurturing and safe environment, for the children to play, eat and rest.

¨ Establishes and maintains a welcoming, comfortable and age appropriate learning environment.

¨ Helps each child assimilate into the group as he/she arrives at the daycare.

¨ Interacts respectfully with the children.

¨ Helps the children with their daily routines, when needed (e.g., arrival, meals, snacks, sleeping/resting, toileting, departure)

¨ Plans and develops a curriculum that includes appropriate guidance approaches, interactions and activities that which foster and help build the affective, social development of children, ensuring children develop: a sense of self in relation to their environment, self-awareness, self-esteem, self competence, self-control and feelings of self-worth.

¨ Plans and develops a curriculum that fosters cognitive competence in children; concepts, language and thinking (rational and creative), by ensuring that the physical environment, the programming, the interventions made within the classroom, are developmentally appropriate.

¨ Plans and develops a curriculum that meets the developmental needs and interests of each child, as well as the group as a whole.

¨ Plans, prepares and implements a curriculum that is inclusive of the Ministere’s educational program, which aligns itself to the daycare’s philosophy:

- Age appropriate, using a variety of materials in the fields of art, music, dance, drama, science, gross and fine motor, basic math, language arts, etc.
- Interest areas, activities, experiences, etc. in accordance with the children’s and each child’s ever changing interests
- Ensures a daily balance of active/quiet time and indoor/outdoor time, while taking the needs of the children into consideration
- Plans long and short-term objectives
- Evaluates
- Records progress
- Develops and maintains a portfolio for each child.

¨ Promotes social competence by encouraging pro-social behaviors, attitudes and problem solving skills.

¨ Fosters physical competence in children by promoting the overall development of fine and gross motor skills.

¨ Consistently assesses and monitors the progress of each child in the group.

¨ Fosters communication skills in children by providing opportunity for children to use verbal and non-verbal means of communication.

¨ Promotes creativity in children.

¨ Functions within a multi-aged environment.

¨ Identifies and assists children and families with special needs.

**THE EDUCATOR IN RELATION TO THE FAMILY**

¨ Maintains partnerships with Parents.

¨ Remains available and approachable to parents.

¨ Greets parents upon arrival and relays pertinent information about their child at pick-up.

¨ Receives information from parents about their children and/or family, and listens and responds appropriately.

¨ Prepare and conduct a minimum of one parent/educator interview per year.

¨ Provide parents with ongoing feedback on the progress of their child in a respectful, helpful and constructive manner.

¨ Notifies the Directors of any concerns.

¨ Refrains from becoming a friend.

¨ Respects confidentiality when communicating sensitive issue to parents

(i.e. privacy - away from the child, etc.).

**THE EDUCATOR IN RELATION TO COLLEAGUES AND THE CENTER**

¨ Attend the following functions:

- Staff meetings.
- Meet the teacher night.
- Staff retreat/or workshops.
- Pedagogical day.

¨ Conduct himself/herself professionally and ethically, respecting La Perle de l’Enfance’s philosophy and policies.

¨ Demonstrate respect and build an open communicative relationship with the children, co-workers, parents, and the daycare’s community.

¨ Arrive at the daycare in sufficient time to be ready to work when his/her shift begins.

¨ Assumes responsibility for the upkeep and cleanliness of all educational material, equipment, and t