Kids / School
就学時健康診断・入学通知: Japan Pre-Enrollment Health Check & School Notice Explained
This document, from your municipality's 教育委員会 (board of education), is the 就学時健康診断 (pre-enrollment health check) notice or the 入学通知 (enrollment notice) for a child due to start elementary school next year. The health check confirms the child's health and development before enrollment, done on an assigned date and place. The enrollment notice tells you the assigned elementary school (指定校) and the expected enrollment date. ⛔ It is not a bill. Attending on the assigned date is the norm, but if that day is inconvenient, or the child will attend a private, national or different-district school, contact the 教育委員会 listed on the document.
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Families with a child of the age to start elementary school next school year, sent by the board of education of the municipality where they are registered. Usually the health-check notice comes around autumn of the year before enrollment, followed by the enrollment notice. Nationality generally does not matter if you are registered (for foreign-national children, guidance may be sent where school attendance is desired). The assigned elementary school is in principle set by the school district based on your address.
What to do
- 1Check whether the document is the health-check notice or the 入学通知, and note the date, time and place.
- 2For the health check, go with your child on the assigned date and place, bringing the listed items (e.g. the 母子健康手帳).
- 3For the 入学通知, confirm the assigned elementary school (指定校) and expected enrollment date, and keep it safe.
- 4If you can't attend on the assigned date, contact the 教育委員会 on the document early to arrange another date.
- 5If the child will attend a private, national or different-district school, or you need to change the assigned school, contact the 教育委員会.
About the deadline
The pre-enrollment health check has an assigned date. ⛔ Always confirm the schedule on your own notice. If that day is inconvenient, don't leave it — contact the board of education to arrange another way or date. The enrollment notice matters for enrollment procedures and the entrance ceremony, so keep it safe. If the child will attend a different school, contacting them early makes the process smoother.
Common misunderstandings
- Does my child have to take the pre-enrollment health check?
- It is an important check of the child's health and development before enrollment, and attending is the norm. If the assigned date doesn't work, contact the board of education to arrange another date or method. The key is not to leave it undone.
- I want my child to attend a different school from the assigned one.
- If the child will attend a private or national school, or you need to change the assigned school for a reason, contact the 教育委員会 on the document. They will explain the procedure and required documents.
- I lost the 入学通知.
- Since it relates to enrollment procedures, contact the 教育委員会 on the document about reissuing it or how to proceed. You can also confirm the assigned school and expected enrollment date.
- Can foreign-national children attend elementary school?
- Foreign-national children can attend public elementary school if desired. For enrollment guidance and procedures, consult the board of education of the municipality where you live. Multilingual guidance may be available.
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This page is general information. For your own case, confirm with the office that issued the document, or with a qualified professional.