"Childcare for All" System Pilot Implementation for 2 Years: Utilization Status and Operational Challenges Seen at a Site with 2x Application Rate

The "Childcare for All" system (Children and Families Agency), which allows all children to regularly use childcare facilities regardless of parents' employment status, will officially begin nationwide in April 2026. Social Welfare Corporation Kazeno Mori, operating the authorized nursery school Pico Nursery Kuga-yama Ekimae (Suginami-ku, Tokyo), has been piloting this system since 2024. To date, it has accepted 30 children. This release introduces the specific utilization status and on-site challenges obtained through the pilot implementation.

Data from "Childcare for All" System Pilot Implementation at Kazeno Mori Pico Nursery Kuga-yama Ekimae

| Item / Fiscal Year | 2024 Fiscal Year | 2025 Fiscal Year | | :----------------- | :--------------- | :--------------- | | **Applications / Capacity** | **31 people / 15 people** | **30 people / 15 people** | | Usage Frequency | Once a week | Once a week |

In fiscal year 2025, there were approximately twice as many applications as the capacity, clearly indicating the high demand for this system.

### ◆Parent's Voice "I'm on childcare leave and can't use a nursery school, but I gave birth to my second child and wanted to create time with each child, so I've been using it frequently, and it's been a great help."

Benefits and Drawbacks Seen Through Actual Operation

On the other hand, through actual operation, challenges visible only on-site have also emerged. The significance of this system is not limited to children already enrolled.