Free School Takinogawa Koto Gakuin Opens "After-school Day Service"

## Convenient Location Near Stations and Free School
Takinogawa Koto Gakuin (operated by Jiyu Kyoiku Co., Ltd.), a free school in Kita-ku, Tokyo, opened its new business "Takinogawa Koto Gakuin After-school," an After-school Day Service, on April 1st.
The location is "101 Saint Vert Hashimoto, 4-3-13 Ukima, Kita-ku, Tokyo." It is conveniently located within an 8-minute walk from Takinogawa Koto Gakuin, JR Kita-Akabane Station, and JR Ukimafunado Station.
(Image: A tenant that used to be a Japanese restaurant. It's a Japanese-style after-school day service. Signs and curtains are to be added.)

## What is "After-school Day Service"?
An After-school Day Service is a project where children and students from 6 to 18 years old who face difficulties in daily life can receive developmental support (rehabilitative services) during after-school hours. In our case, this is from 2:00 PM to around 6:30 PM on weekdays and from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays.
We provide tailored developmental support for each child with developmental characteristics or difficulties so they can acquire necessary daily living movements and adapt to group life.
In principle, the service is provided to children between 6 and 18 years old attending elementary, middle, or high school who have disabilities or developmental characteristics.
Therefore, when using the service, it is necessary to apply to the municipality where you live based on your doctor's opinion and obtain a "Beneficiary Certificate."

## Goals of Takinogawa Koto Gakuin After-school
We decided to open Takinogawa Koto Gakuin After-school because, through our support for children who do not attend school, we realized that the challenges in modern education are not limited to school refusal alone.
It would be wonderful if we could (1) support children who are becoming non-attending before they actually stop going to school. Also, it would be great if we could (2) nurture children who have stopped going to school at a free school and then support them after they return to their affiliated schools or advance to higher education. When thinking about a business that meets all these conditions, I previously considered a cram school.
Indeed, a cram school could meet condition (2). However, for (1), I found it difficult to meet it with a cram school.
While looking for various businesses, I came across the "After-school Day Service."
An After-school Day Service can also function as (3) a place where free school students can grow after 3:30 PM, the closing time of the free school, and (4) a place where children not attending school who use the day service can connect to the free school while growing. I think this is truly amazing.
Additionally, it is a perfect (5) place for students who find it difficult to attend free school due to Orthostatic Dysregulation to grow in the evening.
And, uniquely to Takinogawa Koto Gakuin, it also has the aspect of (6) a place where specialized staff who have been directly involved with non-attending children for 7 years can be active to the maximum.
Thus, Takinogawa Koto Gakuin opened this After-school Day Service that meets all conditions from (1) to (6).