Early Childhood Services (ECS) and Special Needs
The School Act states that a board or an approved school authority may provide an ECS program to a child who is younger than 6 years of age as of September 1. Children identified with disabilities/delays are eligible for up to three years of ECS programming, depending on age, severity of the disability/delay and its impact on the child’s learning and development. Standards for the Provision of Early Childhood Special Education (261 KB) applies to children who meet the eligibility criteria for special education programming.
Early Childhood Services Fact Sheets
- Early Childhood Programming
- Family Oriented Programming
- Early Learning Contact List
- PUF Application Fact Sheet
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À qui puis-je m’adresser si mon enfant a une déficience ou un retard?
Early Childhood Services (ECS) Special Education Funding
Program Unit Funding (PUF) is provided to approved ECS operators for children with severe disabilities/delays who require support beyond that offered in regular ECS programs. For complete information on funding for children who have been identified with severe disabilities/delays, see the Funding Manual. For information on current eligibility criteria see
Special Education Coding Criteria and the PUF application Fact Sheet.
Children with mild to moderate communication disabilities/delays are children who may be at-risk for future problems. School authorities can access ECS mild/moderate funding to support children in kindergarten and the year prior to kindergarten in school-based or community-based language-rich and responsive learning environments in order to improve their learning outcomes.
For complete information on funding for mild/moderate disabilities/delays, see the Funding Manual,
Special Education Coding Criteria and Clarification of Special Education Code 30.
Cross Ministry Services for Preschool Children with Special Needs
Education is not the only ministry that funds programs and services for young children with special needs. The Distinct but Linked brochure (115 KB) outlines, in handy chart form, the services available from four distinct-but-linked ministries: Children and Youth Services, Education, Health & Wellness, and Seniors & Community Supports.
