IHSE was originally founded in 1976 and was known as "Child Development Services". Child Development Services was a joint project of the Nova Scotia Departments of Education and Community Services (formerly Social Services), and was housed at the Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro. The first program offered by the Institute provided education for day care personnel. By 1980, the enrollment had increased to over four hundred students studying in both full and part-time programs throughout Nova Scotia and the rest of Atlantic Canada. In order to meet the expanding student population, a second building known as the Froebel Centre in Princeport, NS was acquired. Recognized both nationally and internationally programs continued to grow and develop to include Special Education and Public School Program Assistants. In 1992 the College moved from under the auspices of the Nova Scotia Teachers College and the provincial government and became a non-funded, not-for-profit entity.