What is the Special Assistance Program?

The Special Assistance Program provides support to young children experiencing delays in their developmental growth and in adapting to communal group environments. Special Assistance Nursery Teachers (SANT) are appointed to support children who are eligible for the Special Assistance Program in public municipal childcare facilities run by Saitama City. Two SANTs are assigned to each public municipal childcare facility.

There are two models used to accommodate the children's needs and provide support:

 1.   1-on-1 Model: One child per SANT.
 2.   2-on-1 Model: Two children per SANT.

                  Normal Class                                                 1-on-1 Model                                                   2-on-1 Model

These diagrams are visual representations. Therefore, the practical implementation of these support models may differ. 
For any inquiries, please call the appropriate number listed in the "Inquiries (Japanese Only):" section towards the bottom of the page.

Daycare Facility Admission Application Process

*The assistance of the child's parent/guardian is required during stages 1-3.

 1.   Submission of childcare application
 2.   Interview at your desired childcare facility
 3.   Trial day at daycare facility
 4.   Eligibility for the Special Assistance Program assessed by Saitama City
 5.   Notification of application result
 6.   Childcare facility placement selection decided by Saitama City
 7.   Notification of placement  

On the trial day:

 ·   Depending on the result of the interview, we may have your child participate in a trial half-day at the childcare facility. Please note that the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the child is(are) also expected to attend.
 ·   During the trial day, your child will be placed in a class where they will play and eat food together with other children their age. 
 ·   Nursery Teachers and employees of the Ward Office's Assistance Division will assess your child's eligibility during these activities.
 ·   Based on the results of the trial day, Saitama City will determine if your child is eligible for the Special Assistance Program. In the case that your child is not found to be eligible, Saitama City will still determine which public childcare facility your child will attend via the standard process.

If your child is eligible for the Special Assistance Program, the following will apply:

 ·   The childcare facility your child will attend to recieve special assistance will be determined by Saitama City.
 ·   The number of children that can attend each childcare facility is predetermined by the city. As the number of regular childcare attendees and special assistance program attendees are counted seperately, there may be cases where a childcare facility only has openings for regular childcare attendees but not for special assistance program attendees. In such cases, it is not possible to grant additional special assistance program openings to childcare facilities who aleady have no availability.
 ·   Priority will be awarded for these services based on family circumstances. The program model that will best accommodate your child's needs is decided without the influence of this priority system.
 ·   If your child is deemed eligible for the 1-on-1 support model, your child will not be sent to a childcare facility where only 2-on-1 support is available.

Inquiries (Japanese only):