Contents > Before Elementary School > 1.Kindergarten, Daycare, and others
1.Kindergarten, Daycare, and others
Institutions that children can utilize prior to elementary school are divided into three large groups: kindergarten, nursery school (= licensed nursery school), non-licensed daycare facilities. There is not a specific one that you are required to attend. A kindergarten is specified as an educational institution for young children, where as nursery schools and unlicensed daycare facilities are places that provide care for children outside the home. As for daycare facilities, some of them only accept children that cannot be looked after at home. From 2009, the "Nintei Kodomo En" (Authorized Child Park), which combines child education, childcare and child rearing support into its programs, was established. Additionally, "Home style daycare businesses (Daycare Mama Businesses)" have begun. In these businesses, the city has enlisted "Daycare Mamas", or guardians, to take care of infants.
| Situation | Early childhood education facility |
|---|---|
| Target age group | 3-year-olds to elementary school age |
| Entrance requirements | No special requirements based on income or family situation |
| Application system | Apply at each kindergarten's reception area from September. Acceptance will be determined after an interview. |
| Daycare Fees | Entry fees and daycare fees will be decided by each kindergarten. |
| Other | Kindergarten starts between 7:20 and 7:30 each day and ends between 13:30 and 14:00. However, all private kindergartens have after hour childcare (a childcare service after the normal kindergarten time). Holidays are on Sundays,
national holidays, spring break, summer break, and winter break. |
| Situation | Daycare facility |
|---|---|
| Target age group | Newborns to elementary school age |
| Entrance requirements | Families that cannot care for the child at home. (Both parents are away from the home during the day working or the like.) |
| Way to apply | For April admission, the city begins accepting applications from September. After an interview (to inquire about household circumstances), the results will be mailed from the city. If children need to enter during the year, applications will be accepted each month. However, entrance may be denied if the school already has the maximum number of students enrolled. |
| Daycare Fees | Fees are decided by the city based on the taxes paid by the family. |
| Other | Daycare hours are 7:00 ~ 18:00, with extended care to 19:00 (for public daycare facilities. As for private daycares, times my vary.) Closed on Sundays, national holidays and year-end breaks. As for Daycare facilities, there are “municipal daycares” (managed by the city) and “private daycares” (approved by the city to operate daycares). Both of these facilities offer fundamentally the same services.) |
| Situation | Daycare facility |
|---|---|
| Target age group | Newborns to elementary school age (It depends on the daycare.) |
| Entrance requirements | There are no special requirements based on income or family situation. |
| Way to apply | Inquire at each daycare directly. |
| Daycare Fees | The entrance and daycare fees are decided by each daycare facility. |
| Other | From 2007, the content of the daycare services was standardized for all daycare institutions. Yamagata city now awards each facility a "Certified Yamagata City Daycare" certification. |
To inquire or request information about "Daycares", and other daycare facilities, please contact:
- Yamagata City Child Daycare Department Child Home Section
Tel. 023-641-1212 (Ext. 572,573) - Yamagata City Child Raising Website
"Genki Sukusuku Net "http://www.kosodate-yamagata.jp/
