What is ECD Experience and what will I need to do
Early Childhood Experience is an integral part of any Early Childhood Care and Education programme and grants students an opportunity to work within an authentic Early Childhood Development (ECD) environment.
How many weeks will I spend in ECD Experience?
Students will be required to complete a minimum of 6-weeks in work-integrated learning, as a compulsory and critical component of the HCECCE programme. This will comprise of 3-weeks in Online Supplementary Activities and 3-weeks in an ECD Centre working with age groups 2-4 years (ECD Centre-based Experience).
Where can I complete my ECD Centre-based experience?
The 3-weeks ECD Centre-based Experience must take place in a suitable, registered South African ECD Centre (as determined by the institution) within reasonable range of one of The IIE’s Varsity College/ IIE MSA campuses.
When will ECD Experience take place?
The 6-weeks ECD Experience take place in Semester 2 of the HCECCE programme:
- Block 1 – ECD Online Supplementary Activities (3 weeks)
- Block 2 – ECD Centre-based Experience (3 weeks)
The 6-weeks ECD Experience are structured in The IIE’s Academic Calendar, and all students are required to complete the 6-weeks as per these dates, in the year in which they are registered.
Access on to Work Integrated Learning (i.e. ECD Experience)
- Police clearance certificates: All HCECCE students are required to provide a valid South African Police Clearance Certificate or an Afiswitch Criminal Check Certificate on commencement of their ECD Centre-based Experience.
- Lecture Attendance/Engagement Requirement: The HCECCE Student is required to meet the 80 % lecture attendance/ online engagement requirement for each of the identified modules as is aligned to ECD Experience for that year to gain access into their ECD Centre-based Experience.