Childrearing Support, Extended Care, Safety and Health

Which of the following correctly describes what Article 24 of the School Education Act (学校教育法) asks kindergartens to do?

1. Answer questions only from parents of enrolled children, and leave all support for local residents to the municipality
2. Strive to support early childhood education in homes and the community, for example by giving advice and information in response to questions from parents and local residents
3. Keep every enrolled child at the kindergarten after the education hours, whether or not the parents wish it
4. Care for local children under 3 every day on an ongoing basis, on the condition that the parents are working

Chapter 3, Section 2 of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領) describes a role that kindergartens should strive to play in the community through childrearing support. What is it?

1. The role of a centre for early childhood education in the community
2. The role of a core facility that adjusts the demand for childcare in the community
3. The role of an agency that directs and supervises home education in the community
4. The role of an office that licenses childrearing support programmes in the community

Which of the following is NOT given as an example of childrearing support in Chapter 3, Section 2 of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領)?

1. Responding to questions about early childhood education
2. Welcoming young children who come to the kindergarten together with a parent
3. Providing chances for parents to meet and interact with each other
4. Doing housework at home in place of the parents

According to the General Provisions (Section 6) of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領), what is the purpose of giving parents chances to exchange information and to do activities with their children?

1. To let parents evaluate the homeroom teacher's teaching methods
2. To hand over the planning of the kindergarten curriculum to parents
3. To deepen parents' understanding of early childhood education
4. To check children's progress in home study and give them grades

For a smooth transition from kindergarten to elementary school, what does Section 6, item 3 of the General Provisions of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領) say kindergartens should actively provide?

1. Time for early reading and writing lessons using elementary school textbooks
2. Chances for kindergarten children and elementary school pupils to interact
3. An academic test before entering elementary school, with results shared
4. A period in which 5-year-olds join elementary school classes every day

A kindergarten teacher thinks a child may be suffering abuse. Under the Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse (児童虐待の防止等に関する法律), which response is appropriate?

1. Promptly notify the municipality, a child guidance centre or a similar body once abuse is thought to be happening
2. Keep watching without notifying anyone until clear proof of abuse is collected
3. First ask the parents, and notify only if the parents agree
4. Handle it inside the kindergarten with only the principal and homeroom teacher, without telling outsiders

Chapter 4, "Childrearing Support", of the Nursery Care Guidelines (保育所保育指針) sets out a basic attitude for supporting parents. Which is it?

1. Put the childcare worker's judgement first and tell parents the correct way to raise children
2. Share what parents say in consultations with all staff and other parents so that everyone can help
3. Stay out of family matters and only report how the child is doing at the nursery
4. Accept parents' feelings and, based on mutual trust, respect parents' own decisions

According to the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領), what is the rule on the number of weeks of curriculum-based education in each school year?

1. It must not be fewer than 35 weeks, except in special circumstances
2. The standard is 40 weeks, and each kindergarten may increase or decrease it
3. It must not be fewer than 39 weeks, except in special circumstances
4. There is no rule; each kindergarten decides freely

How does the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領) set the daily hours of curriculum-based education?

1. Four hours as the standard, with proper attention to children's development, the season and so on
2. Four hours as the maximum; children must not stay at the kindergarten any longer
3. Eight hours as the rule, extended to match parents' working hours
4. Six hours as the standard, made longer as children get older

Chapter 3 of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領) describes educational activities held after curriculum-based education hours (often called azukari hoiku, extended care). Who are they for?

1. All enrolled children, with participation required
2. Only children whose parents work full-time
3. Only children under 3 who have not yet entered the kindergarten
4. Those who wish to join, depending on local conditions and parents' requests

An extended-care staff member planned vigorous exercise in the afternoon, not knowing that the class had played outdoor tag for a long time in the morning. Based on Chapter 3 of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領), what is the most appropriate improvement?

1. Extended care is not an educational activity, so the staff member may plan alone
2. Work with the teacher in charge of curriculum-based activities and make the afternoon activity gentle, based on the morning
3. Repeating the same activity in the morning and afternoon helps learning, so go ahead
4. Give priority to activities parents often ask for, without thinking about how tired the children are

Which of the following is a point of care for extended care given in Chapter 3, Section 1 of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領)?

1. Be flexible about the number of days and hours, based on local conditions, families' circumstances and children's daily rhythm
2. The days and hours are fixed nationwide, so a kindergarten must not change them even for local or family reasons
3. Working with local people blurs responsibility, so only kindergarten staff should run extended care
4. Responsibility and supervision systems can be set up again once an accident has happened

The General Provisions of the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領) say each kindergarten should make an "overall plan". Which description is correct?

1. It is centred on the extended-care plan, with the curriculum as one part of it
2. The school health plan and school safety plan are handled separately from the curriculum
3. It is centred on the curriculum and links it with the extended-care plan, the school health plan, the school safety plan and others
4. Only nursery schools make an overall plan; kindergartens are not asked to

Which of the following is one of the contents of the area of "Health" in the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領)?

1. Stay indoors until the teacher says otherwise, so as not to go near dangerous places or play equipment
2. Memorise all traffic rules and come to kindergarten safely alone
3. Be able to give oneself first aid when injured
4. Understand dangerous places, dangerous ways of playing and how to act in disasters, and act with care for safety

Which of the following matches how safety should be taught, according to item (6) of the handling of the contents of "Health" in the Course of Study for Kindergarten (幼稚園教育要領)?

1. Put avoiding any danger first, completely ban any play with even a little risk and keep children indoors
2. Focus on posting written safety rules in the room and having children read and memorise them one by one
3. Help children feel emotionally stable, build a readiness for safety through play, and learn how to act in emergencies through drills
4. Skip evacuation drills because they make children anxious; only teachers check the steps, and children are not told

Which law requires kindergartens to make and carry out a "school health plan" covering health checkups of children and staff, environmental hygiene inspections and so on?

1. School Education Act (学校教育法)
2. School Health and Safety Act (学校保健安全法)
3. Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)
4. Child and Childcare Support Act (子ども・子育て支援法)

Which items does Article 27 of the School Health and Safety Act (学校保健安全法) list for the school safety plan?

1. Safety checks of buildings and equipment, safety guidance including the trip to school, and staff training
2. Health checkups, environmental hygiene inspections and guidance on health for students
3. Number of weeks, daily education hours and the basic policy for planning the curriculum
4. How children are selected for admission, the fees, and the charges and hours of extended care

Which is a correct description of the "procedures for responding to danger" (often called a crisis management manual) in Article 29 of the School Health and Safety Act (学校保健安全法)?

1. The national government writes one version for the whole country, and each school posts it without changes
2. The parents' association writes it, and the school checks it only when parents ask
3. It is written after an accident to keep a detailed record of how the accident happened
4. It sets out what staff should do, and in what order, when danger arises; the principal makes it known to staff and holds drills

Under Article 19 of the School Health and Safety Act (学校保健安全法), who can stop a child suspected of having an infectious disease from attending?

1. The school doctor
2. The principal (in a kindergarten, the head of the kindergarten)
3. The body that established the school
4. The child's homeroom teacher

Which set lists the situations that the Guidelines for Accident Prevention and Response at Education and Childcare Facilities (教育・保育施設等における事故防止及び事故発生時の対応のためのガイドライン) single out as prone to serious accidents?

1. Drop-off and pick-up, sports day, excursions and displaying artwork
2. Morning arrival, the end-of-day gathering, parent meetings and open days
3. Sleep, pool and water play, choking while eating and similar, and food allergies
4. Reading picture books aloud, singing, craft and drawing

Which is an appropriate arrangement for pool and water play, according to the guidelines?

1. Assign a person only for watching, separate from the teacher, and consider cancelling if supervision is not enough
2. The teacher who is teaching swimming also watches the whole pool at the same time
3. Put children in pairs to watch each other, so the teacher may leave the poolside
4. On days with too few staff, hold a shorter session without anyone assigned to watch

According to the guidelines, which is the correct way for a kindergarten to handle food allergies?

1. Based only on a parent's spoken request, give small amounts so the child gets used to the food
2. Actively try foods at the kindergarten that the child has never eaten at home
3. One staff member silently checking the allergy child's meal is enough
4. Have the family submit a school life management form and, based on a doctor's diagnosis, completely remove the food as the basic rule

A serious accident happened in the playground. Which response, right after and afterwards, matches the guidelines?

1. Clean up the scene first so other children are not scared, and then contact the parents
2. Give first aid and call 119 if needed, see a doctor if unsure, and as a rule leave the scene untouched
3. If unsure whether the injury needs a doctor, do not go and just watch the child at school
4. The staff member handling the accident also looks after all the other children alone

According to the guidelines, how should staff who were at the scene record what happened?

1. All staff discuss and agree on the facts, and one representative writes and submits a single record
2. Wait several days until things calm down, to organise one's memory, and then write
3. On the same day, each person writes separately with a pen that cannot be erased, without consulting other staff
4. Write a draft in pencil so it can be changed later, then make a clean copy in pen

According to the guidelines (as of March 2016), which serious accidents are to be reported to the national government?

1. Deaths, and serious accidents with an injury or illness needing 30 days or more of treatment
2. Only deaths; accidents with injury or illness are not reported
3. Every accident in which a child saw a doctor, whatever the treatment length
4. Every accident with an injury needing 7 days or more of treatment