Early Childhood Services Program (ECS)
Possibility to Ability
Empowering lives through education and community support
Program Overview
At Elves, learning is individualized, strengths-based, and developmentally appropriate. Complex skills are broken into
manageable steps and reinforced through repetition, positive encouragement, and play-based experiences.
Children learn in small classroom settings with high staff-to-learner ratios. Classroom groupings are based on
developmental levels and abilities, allowing each learner to receive the support they need while engaging with peers in
meaningful ways.
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Communication and language development
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Social and emotional regulation
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Fine and gross motor skills
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Early literacy and numeracy
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Classroom readiness and daily living skills
Who We Serve
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Children approximately 2.5 to 6 years of age
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Eligible for Program Unit Funding (PUF)
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Learners with severe developmental delays, including speech and language, emotional or behavioural development,
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physical, cognitive, or medical needs
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Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
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(FASD), visual or hearing impairments, and motor delays
Program Environment
Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to support diverse learning needs. Depending on the program and learners,
environments may include sensory-friendly spaces, adaptive equipment, accessible gyms and playgrounds, and assistive
technology such as communication devices and interactive learning tools.
Family Support
We believe families are essential partners in a child's learning journey. Ongoing communication between home and school helps ensure consistency and shared understanding. Families may receive regular updates, opportunities for home visits, access to family-oriented programming sessions, and referrals to community resources.
Additional Support
Elves works alongside a range of professionals to support each child's development. Supports may include speech and
language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, nursing and health supports, behavioural consultation, and family
support services. External referrals are coordinated when appropriate.
Location
Early Childhood Services are offered at two Edmonton locations:
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The Elves Child Development Centre
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The Elves Adult & Youth Centre.
Program options and schedules are determined based on each learner's needs.