⦁ What is the main language of instruction at Imagine?
⦁ I do not speak English very well. How can I communicate with the teachers?
⦁ My child does not speak or understand any English. Can they still join Imagine?
⦁ How can my child learn/improve their English?
⦁ How can I learn about my child’s day?
⦁ Can I observe my child during the day?
⦁ Will my child learn other skills, such as math or science?
⦁ How often do the children play outside and where do they go?
⦁ Are snacks and lunch provided?
⦁ What if my child has food allergies?
⦁ Does Imagine have a school bus service?
⦁ My child is not yet toilet trained. Can they be toilet trained at Imagine?
⦁ Can Imagine take care of my child if s/he is sick?
⦁ What will happen if my child becomes sick during the day?
⦁ Do I need to visit the school with my child before joining?
⦁ How long before starting should I visit?
⦁ I will only be in Japan for a few weeks/months. Can my child enroll in a program for a short time?
⦁ How does the Waiting List work?
⦁ Does Imagine accept children with learning or physical disabilities?
⦁ Can I (parent) volunteer my help in any way?
⦁ What school events am I (parent) required to attend?
⦁ How does Imagine prepare my child for elementary school?
⦁ What elementary schools do Imagine graduates typically go to?
⦁ What safety precautions are taken at Imagine?
⦁ I cannot find the school fees? How much are the school fees?
⦁ Are there any discounts available?
Q. What is the main language of instruction at Imagine?
A. English is the main language used by staff for daily instruction and communication with children, however we believe that communication by any means is important so we do not discourage the use of Japanese or other languages.
Q. I do not speak English very well. How can I communicate with the teachers?
A. Imagine staff are great at using simple English to fit your level of understanding (we do it every day with the children!), and all staff understand at least some basic Japanese. However, for more important information, we are happy to communicate in Japanese.
Q. My child does not speak or understand any English. Can they still join Imagine?
A. Yes, most children that start at Imagine do not speak any English. Through daily interactions with friends and teachers they will begin to learn in a natural way, just like native English speakers. We also give children Japanese language support if necessary..
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A. Children at Imagine will naturally learn to speak and understand English through being in the environment.
Preschool aged children will learn phonics (learning the sounds of English), along with reading and writing, as they are used regularly for project activities.
We strongly recommend supporting your child’s English development at home for them to maximize their potential. Activities such as singing songs, listening to storybooks, or just talking with parents can make a big difference in their ability to use English every day!
A. Every day at pick-up time, a teacher will talk to you about your child’s day – what they learned, who they played with, how they ate, etc. Toddler parents also use a communication booklet that shows a record of toileting, meals, naptime and other daily activities.
Both classes also have a blog which is updated daily, showing photos from various activities and information about what we did during the day.
A. Imagine is equipped with live cameras that allow you to watch what is happening in the classrooms throughout the day. These camera feeds are password protected for the privacy of Imagine families only. While there is no audio, you can still see what your child is doing with their friends in real time.
A. Yes! But unlike schools that have dedicated time slots for different subjects, we incorporate these skills into projects and other fun activities so that children can enjoy learning these skills through real world experiences that interest them rather than through rote memory.
A. We believe outdoor exploration is very important and so we take the children out every day. We are lucky to have many parks and open spaces in this area, including indoor spaces for when it is raining. In all, we have over ten areas that we frequently visit and a few more that we occasionally visit. On top of that, we have several shopping malls in the area which can be great for visiting when we are learning about particular projects or themes.
A. We provide children with a healthy snack (e.g. fruit, rice cracker) in the morning (before going outside) and in the afternoon (after nap-time for full-day students only).
School lunch may be homemade or ordered* through the lunch company that delivers to us daily. Imagine supports the Japanese Government guidelines of Shokuiku (Food Education) to promote food education and healthy eating habits.
*Please note that ordered lunches are paid for monthly, so it is not possible to choose certain days to order, it must be ongoing until you cancel.
A. We have several processes in place to ensure that children with food allergies are protected, including separate snack storage, individual cups and teachers safety checks.
As there are many different types of allergies, we ask that you talk with a staff member to discuss the best way that your child’s allergies can be safely handled in the school environment.
A. Unfortunately we do not have a bus service. Children come to Imagine with their parents via walk/bicycle (for those living nearby) or by car/train. It is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Sakuragicho Station or Minatomirai Station. Landmark Tower has an underground paid parking space.
A. We are happy to work together with parents when the time comes to begin toilet training. We believe every child is different, so children begin training at different ages when they are ready, both physically and emotionally. We have a lot of experience in helping children go through toilet training, and we ask that parents frequently talk with class teachers to help this phase go smoothly and stress-free for your child.
A. No. To prevent illness spreading amongst other children and teachers, we ask that children stay home if they are too sick to participate in all daily activities.
A. If your child develops a fever over 37.5ยบ, suffers from vomiting, or any other signs of illness, we will contact parents immediately to arrange an early pick-up. While waiting, your child will be kept away from other children to prevent their illness spreading and will be regularly monitored by a staff member.
A. Unless it is not possible (such as for families living in another country), we do require that you visit the school with your child so that you can learn more about our philosophy and also observe how your child plays and interacts with others in the classroom.
A. This really depends on the age of your child and the space we have available at any given time. If you are thinking about your child starting from the youngest age (18 months), we suggest visiting about 3-6 months before the intended starting date.
For older children, 1-2 months before the intended starting date is usually sufficient, however in all situations it will depend on the current number of enrolled children and the number of children on the waiting list.
Q. I will only be in Japan for a few weeks/months. Can my child enroll in a program for a short time?
A. As long as we have space available, we are happy to welcome children for a short stay in one of our programs. This has been common for families staying in Japan for a short time due to work. We have welcomed children from as far away as Italy, America, Brazil, France and more!
Please contact us if you require a short program enrollment.
A. The waiting list can be used if:
⦁ Your child is currently too young to join (0-17 months)
⦁ You are thinking of joining at a later date, but are not yet sure.
⦁ You would like to join, but we do not currently have space available.
There is no cost to go on the waiting list and we will contact you regularly to inform you if space becomes available or to check if you would like to remain on the waiting list.
A. The short answer is yes, but only if we are confident that we can provide your child with the proper care and attention that they require.
We have had great success with children that display learning difficulties (such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders) due to our child-centered approach to learning that allows children more independence than they might get in a regular Japanese preschool.
We are happy to work together with parents and other agencies in helping all children that require extra support.
A. We are always happy for parents (or other relatives/family friends) to volunteer their help, especially if they can share or teach something about their work experience or hobby. We may also ask parents to visit us if we know they have expertise in a subject we are learning about, or even something simple like reading a book to the class.
A. Upon enrollment, you will receive the school calendar that will show events requiring parental attendance. There are approximately seven events throughout the year that require parental attendance:
⦁ Opening Ceremony
⦁ 1st Term Field Trip*
⦁ Preschool Fair
⦁ Activity Day
⦁ 2nd Term Field Trip*
⦁ Halloween Event
⦁ Christmas Event
⦁ Closing Ceremony
*Preschool Field trips may be optional for parents to join.
We also have several events throughout the year that are optional for parents to join and other outings with children that do not require parental attendance.
A. Imagine provides a unique learning experience that encourages children to be independent thinkers, while also learning fundamental skills that are age-appropriate.
We do not prepare children to take entrance examinations for private schools, nor do we teach Japanese (although, Japanese children usually learn enough from home to enter Japanese elementary schools without any difficulties).
We do try to support parents and children that are preparing for elementary school if it does not disrupt or conflict with our schedule or philosophy.
A. Imagine graduates have enrolled in a wide variety of elementary schools, including the following:
⦁ Yokohama International School
⦁ Horizon International School
⦁ St. Maur International School
⦁ New International School
⦁ Nishimachi International School
⦁ Yokohama Elementary School (affiliated with Yokohama National University)
⦁ Seika Elementary School
⦁ Soushin Elementary School
⦁ Yokosuka Gakuin
⦁ Kanto Gakuin
⦁ Toin Gakuen
⦁ Various Japanese Public Elementary Schools
A. Your child’s safety is of our upmost concern at all times. As such, we have many procedures in place to ensure the safest environment possible, including:
⦁ Secure facilities (door is locked and can only be opened by IC cards for each family).
⦁ Monthly drills for earthquake, fire (evacuation) and stranger emergencies.
⦁ All staff are trained in basic first aid, including CPR and AED training.
⦁ Regular staff training to review any safety issues and implement action plans.
⦁ Imagine Global Care is a certified PrivacyMark company, meaning that we protect all personal information and handle it correctly.
A. Information of school fees are available on request.
A. Yes, we offer two different discounts:
⦁ Sibling discount: After two or more siblings are enrolled, all siblings receive a discount until the youngest graduates.
⦁ Tenant discount: Available for parents that are working in Landmark Tower or Queens Tower A. Only available for 5 days/week Full Day program students.
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