The course on Professional Development of Early Childhood Educators recognises the crucial role of caregivers and teachers in providing a supportive environment to promote holistic wellbeing of the children and working with families and communities. 

The course will provide insights into the multiple roles that an Early Childhood Educator is expected to play besides education; creating awareness and supporting nutrition, health and caregiving needs of young children. The course will emphasise the importance of the socio-emotional wellbeing of the adults in the child’s life — the caregivers and the teachers. 

The meaning of ​‘profession’, the need for ECCE teacher/​caregiver professional development, and the range of ECCE teacher/​caregiver professional development programmes that exist in India and their status will be discussed. 

The course will look at the qualifications, competencies required of teachers/​caregivers, and challenges they face and examine ways to support them through professional development. Future directions for early childhood teacher education and concerns related to it will be discussed. Ethical ways of working with young children will be critically examined.