FAQ

FAQ for Prospective On-campus Nursery Users

What are the eligibility requirements for regular childcare?: Regular childcare is open to healthy preschool children two months and older of Tohoku University employees and students who require childcare assistance. Those in homes with another family member who can look after them are not eligible. Children of employees on childcare leave can be enrolled after the leave ends.

My spouse is currently unemployed but plans to start working as soon as our child is accepted by a nursery. Can we apply?: Enrollment for 2 months, beginning on the scheduled date of entry, is possible.
Please obtain and submit certification that your spouse is receiving benefits while seeking employment from your local municipal office. >>>
If your spouse finds a job, please submit appropriate proof of employment as soon as possible.

I'm on childcare leave now. From when can my child enter?: It is possible to apply for enrollment at the nursery one month prior to your childcare leave ending.
In the meantime, it is possible for your child to attend to become accustomed to the nursery.

Are enrollment applications taken throughout the year?: Yes, applications can be made anytime. Selection is not done on a first-come, first-served basis. To be considered for enrollment in a particular month, submit your application by the 15th of the preceding month (or the previous business day if the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday).
If your application no longer needs to be considered (e.g., the child has been accepted by another nursery), please promptly notify the Human Resources and Planning Department.

Can I visit the nursery to see what it’s like?: Yes, you can. Visits by prospective users can be made during hours that will not affect the staff’s childcare duties. To schedule a visit, contact the Human Resources and Planning Department.

I’m a student without income. Can I have the nursery tuition waived?: Children of up to two years of age are eligible for free childcare in households exempt from municipal taxation. Please check here regarding free childcare.
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Can I receive a discount on the nursery tuition if I have two children attending the nursery?: Tohoku University does not give a sibling discount, but at Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School, the fee is determined by the municipality in which you live (the upper limit determined by Tohoku University is \37,100 for those under 1 year of age and \37,000 yen for 1-2-year-olds).

Do I need to pay a separate fee for meals and snacks?: For children between 0 and 2 years of age, the cost of meals and snacks is included in the childcare fees.

Once a child is accepted to the nursery, is there a gradual entry period?: Depending on your child’s situation, a period of about 1 to 2 weeks of getting accustomed to the nursery is necessary.

I’m expecting. Can I apply now or make a reservation?: Applications are taken only for children already born. Reservations and waiting list placements are not offered for unborn children.

Do siblings of enrolled children receive preferential treatment in the selection process?: Yes, to a certain extent. Selection is based on a scored assessment of each applicant’s childcare needs. Points are added to the score of applicants who will have another child already enrolled when their second child enters, or who are seeking to enroll two or more siblings at the same time. A higher score means a higher probability of being accepted.

How are meals prepared? Do you accommodate children with food allergies?: Meals and snacks are prepared in the nursery’s kitchen. Each nursery has a dietitian and a licensed cook on staff. There may be times when separate allergen-free servings cannot be prepared, so be sure to discuss your child’s dietary needs with the nursery.

Can I bring breast milk?: We do not provide facilities to store or handle breast milk. Mothers can breastfeed their children at either nursery, but please note that the nurseries do not have a nursing room.

Why are there cases where a child is not accepted to enroll at Aobayama Midori Nursery School, even though there is a vacancy in the class for children under 1 (‘0-year-old’ class)?: At Aobayama Midori Nursery School, there are fewer spots in the 1-year-old class than the 0-year-old class. Therefore, the age of the child at the time of application and the availability across both classes are taken into consideration. As a result, there are cases when a child may not be accepted into the 0-year-old class, despite there being a spot, because there will not be a spot for that child in the 1-year-old class the following year.

FAQ for New/Current On-campus Nursery Users

My spouse has left his/her job and is now seeking a new one. Can our child continue attending the nursery?: Please obtain and submit certification that your spouse is receiving benefits while seeking employment from your local municipal office. >>>
It is possible to using the nursery school for a grace period of 2 months after your spouse leaves their job.
If your spouse finds a job, please submit appropriate proof of employment as soon as possible.

Do I need to pay tuition for any months in which my child does not attend at all due to some reason?: You can receive an exemption from nursery fees by submitting a notification of absence. Please see each nursery school’s childcare fee list for details.

I’m expecting another child and plan to stay at my parents’ home (far from here) for several weeks before and after giving birth. Can I take my enrolled child out of daycare for three months to go with me?: Leaves of absence from Aobayama Midori Nursery School can be taken for up to six months, and from Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School for up to two months, but tuition will continue to be charged for those months as well.
Please note that absences longer than six months result in revocation of enrollment.

Do I need to complete some sort of procedure to disenroll my child?: Yes. Please file a Notice of Disenrollment at least one month in advance. Keep in mind that tuition may be charged for the following month if the notice is not filed on time.

I’m expecting another child and I plan to take childcare leave after giving birth. Can my enrolled child continue attending the nursery during that leave?: Your children can continue attending Aobayama Midori Nursery School for one year from the day on which your childcare leave begins (if you are on a waiting list, there is the possibility of extending this period every six months, up to a maximum of up to two years).
Your children can continue attending Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School until the last day of the month in which your youngest child turns 1 year old (unless their birthday is on the first of the month, in which case your children can continue attending until the previous day, i.e., the last day of the previous month), as long as you make an application for continued enrollment to the municipality where you live, and it is approved.
In addition, if your youngest child is on a waiting list at the time of their 1st birthday, this period may be extended by up to 6 months if applied for (if they are on a waiting list when they turn 18 months old, this period can be extended for another 6 months).
* Please submit an application for continued enrollment and a copy of the insurance card of the child for whom you are taking childcare leave.

Is tuition paid by electronic funds transfer?: If you are an employee, tuition is deducted from your salary. If you are a student or other user not on the Tohoku University payroll, contact the Human Resources and Planning Department.

Do I need to provide a futon/bedding set for nap time?: Yes, if your child attends Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School. Aobayama Midori Nursery School provides a bedding set (futon, sheet, thin/thick blankets) to each child.

Can my child continue to be enrolled in the next academic year?: It is possible for your child be enrolled in the next academic year, but we always check whether your child qualifies. In addition, those whose spouse is out of work can only enroll their children for up to two months while they are seeking employment. Please submit a certificate to show that your spouse is either employed or seeking employment.

Temporary Childcare Service

Submit the Temporary Childcare Application to the General Affairs Division’s General Affairs and Planning Department (hoiku@grp.tohoku.ac.jp) at least one week in advance if you plan to use Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery school, or two weeks in advance for Aobayama Midori Nursery school. The coordinator will contact you after checking the nursery’s availability. If an emergency, please consult with the coordinator.

Please note that requests sometimes cannot be accommodated due to special events, limited staffing, or other circumstances.

FAQ for Prospective On-campus Nursery Users

FAQ for New/Current On-campus Nursery Users

Temporary Childcare Service

Human Resources and Planning Division, Human Resources and Planning Department,Tohoku University

Human Resources and Planning Division, Human Resources and Planning Department,
Tohoku University