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As of March 28th, 2024 our waitlist has closed for new submissions; 

please see our How to Register page for more info.

Centre for Early Learning

Child Care from Birth

to 12 years & Preschool

Craigflower Elementary 

  • 2766 Admirals Road, Victoria

Eagle View Elementary

  • 97 Talcott Road, Victoria

Palsson Elementary

  • 9 Grosskleg Way, Lake Cowichan

Chemainus Elementary

  • 3172 Garner Street, Chemainus

Saltair

  • 3850 South Oyster School Road, Ladysmith

Ladysmith Primary

  • 510 6th Avenue, Ladysmith

3rd Ave

  • 730 3rd Avenue, Ladysmith​​

Fairview Elementary

  • 205 Howard Avenue, Nanaimo​

Rock City Elementary

  • 3741 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo

Pipers

  • 100-4750 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo

Little Tots

  • 3507 Littleford Road, Nanaimo

Ralph Bell Elementary

  • 1780 A & B Valleyview Drive, Kamloops​​​​​

Port Alberni (coming soon)

  • 3061 8th Avenue, Port Alberni

Inquiring Little Minds respectfully acknowledges that we are uninvited guests who live, work, educate, and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation; and the unceded, ancestral, and shared territory of the Stó:lō people, who have occupied these lands since time immemorial; and on the land located in the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc territory that is situated in the southern interior of British Columbia within the unceded traditional lands of the Secwepemc Nation.

About

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Inquiring Little Minds (ILM) was founded in September 2011. The Saltair Childcare Society (SCS) and ILM work together in a private-public partnership (a long-term arrangement between a government institution and a private sector institution). We also work in partnerships with the City of Port Alberni, Cowichan Valley School District, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, and Saltair Community Society.

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ILM facilities are dedicated to the provision of safe, well-managed childcare services for children that are provided by full and part-time, qualified staff. ILM's goal is to stimulate emotional growth, independent growth, intellectual growth, physical growth, and social growth amongst its charges.

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Services provided by ILM to the public include:

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  • Full and part-time child care ages 0 to 12 years.

  • Resource programs for children with special needs.

  • Before and after school care for school-age children.

 

We also provide subsidized services for parents in need (as determined by the Ministry of Children and Families' assessment).



The ILM Education Center's philosophy is based on the Early Learning Framework (ELF) and uses the principles of the inquiry method of education. After traveling to learn about the Reggio Emilia Approach in Italy, ILM incorporated the principles of play, creativity, and socialization. We are licensed through the Ministry of Health. Our license numbers are: 280675 (Craigflower), 279555 (Eagle View), 275131 (Palsson), 277421 (Chemainus), TMGN-8K8UB7 (Saltair), CLEY-C6VVKM (LPS), KRIS-B89V9Y (3rd Ave), CFRN-C6VQGH (Fairview), 279479 (Rock City), CFRN-BUKMT8 (Pipers), 276400 (Little Tots), and F-2023-50504 (Ralph Bell).

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ILM's founder, Alisha Neumann, has earned a Master of Education in Distance Education (Athabasca University, 2020), and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (University of British Columbia, 2017). Previously, Alisha completed an Early Childhood Education Diploma (Northern Lights College, 2015). Alisha also graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education (2007) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science (2003) at the University of Northern British Columbia. ​Alisha's academic/research interests include: measuring and assessing quality; increasing affordability and spaces; creativity; and advocacy for better working conditions and standards for Early Childhood Educators.



Dependant on completed education, ILM staff are qualified with certificates from the Early Childhood Education Registry of British Columbia as either: (a) Responsible Adult; (b) Early Childhood Education Assistant; (c) Early Childhood Educator; or (d) Infant Toddler Educator. All ILM staff have Criminal Record Checks through the Ministry of Justice and valid first aid training. We take advantage of professional development workshops from all over the world to gain different perspectives in Early Childhood Education.

Early Childhood Education Training

If you are interested in working in a child care setting here are several certifications and ways to achieve them.

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Responsible Adult (RA)

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A Responsible Adult is a person who is at least 19 years old and has 20 hours of experience or workshops. The best way to achieve this certification is by completing the following online course. It can be completed at your pace and is not completed with a classroom setting in mind. The course can be found here:

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http://www.workshopsonearlylearning.com/course.html

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Early Childhood Education Assistant (ECEA OR ECA)

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An ECEA has taken one course in Early Childhood Education either in Health, Safety and Nutrition, Child Development, or Child Guidance. This course can be completed face to face or online at an accredited institution. We can provide you with links to the Colleges that offer Early Childhood Education Training upon request. After successful completion of the course, certification can be requested from the BC ECE Registry.

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http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/early-learning/teach/training-and-professional-development/become-an-early-childhood-educator/apply-for-ece-ecea-certificate

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Early Childhood Educator (ECE)

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The process for certification as an ECE is much the same as for an ECEA. However, 10 courses or 2 semesters of course work are required for the certificate. Having ECE certification allows you to teach Preschool and run a 3 year old to 5 year old Child Care Room.

 

Infant Toddler Educator (ITE)

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Becoming an ITE requires completing a two-year Diploma in Early Childhood Education. An ITE is able to run an Infant and Toddler room.

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