- Below is the content from the press release--
Unifa Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Yasuyuki Toki, hereinafter "Unifa"), a company that uses the power of technology to solve social issues related to childcare and childrearing, has launched the new "Smart Kindergarten and Smart Children's School" model school program, aiming to solve issues unique to kindergartens, in addition to the "Smart Nursery School®" model school program announced last year. Smart Kindergarten® and Smart Children's School®.
The model kindergartens and children's kindergartens (transitioning from kindergartens) will be monitored on an ongoing basis to see what changes have occurred in the operational efficiency of childcare-related tasks and the quality of childcare before and after the introduction of the AI and IoT-based childcare support service Lukumi. We will continue to monitor the changes in operational efficiency and the quality of childcare before and after the introduction of Lukumi.
Unifa will continue to develop "smart nursery schools, smart kindergartens and smart children's schools" with the aim of creating a social infrastructure for childcare facilities, which play an important role in raising children.
Model garden activities
"Smart Nurseries, Smart Kindergartens and Smart Children's Centres
CHILDCARE FACILITIES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN, BUT THE SHORTAGE OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE FIELD OF CHILDCARE HAS BECOME A SOCIAL ISSUE. UNIFA HAS BEEN PROMOTING THE "SMART NURSERY SCHOOL" CONCEPT, USING TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THE WORKLOAD IN THE CHILDCARE SECTOR AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CHILDCARE. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE CHANGES IN THE WAY THEY DEAL WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDCARE RELATED TASKS. WE HAVE RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE MODEL PRESCHOOLS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THEIR WORK HOURS BY APPROXIMATELY 65%*1 PER MONTH, AND THAT "SMARTER WORK HAS MADE THE CAREGIVERS FEEL MORE AT EASE AND RELAXED, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS MORE ON THE CHILDREN. IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE USE OF ICT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT TO IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE QUALITY OF CHILDCARE.
On the other hand, we also found that this approach would help to solve the problems of paperwork and safety management that are unique to nursery schools, and in order to support the efforts of kindergartens, which have different problems to nursery schools, we decided to start the activities of the Smart Kindergarten and Children's School model. According to the questionnaire we conducted beforehand, only about 20% of the facilities answered that they were effectively reflecting on their childcare, and the most common reason given for not being able to reflect on their childcare was "lack of time "*2.
In the activities of the model preschools, we plan to work on improvements aimed not only at increasing the efficiency of paperwork, but also at improving the quality of childcare, and to make use of the "Lukumi" series as necessary. By doing so, we will streamline childcare-related tasks, create more time and mental space for caregivers, and work together to achieve effective childcare reflection using photographs.
*1: Changes in work time for photo sales, temperature checks, contact sheets and shift preparation (measured at our model kindergartens)
*2: Questionnaires were sent to carers at the target model kindergartens and childcare centres (conducted from 21 April to 19 May 2021, 31 valid responses).
Comments from the model kindergartens and children's schools
- Higashi Nibancho Kindergarten (kindergarten): Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
We found the Lukumi initiative very attractive and a good opportunity for the field of early childhood education and care to review, progress and evolve in the future. I would be happy to be of some help as a model school. It has also given me the opportunity to review and reflect on the changing nature of childcare. - Warm Forest Shinbashi Yayoi-dai Children's School (certified nursery school): Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Teachers want to spend time with the children in the four seasons of Japan and be close to them from the same perspective. I digitised this from a childcare diary in which they look back on the excitement and thrill of each day. Nuances that are difficult to capture in writing can now be expressed in photographs and recorded easily. I want to reduce the burden of writing and make more room for reflection. - Shinai Kindergarten (kindergarten-type certified childcare centre): Himeji, Hyogo, Japan
I liked the fact that the Lukumi Documentation tool and the training on documentation are available as a set. I feel that training is very important to improve the quality of childcare. It has to change with the times and I would like to continue my studies.
About Unifa Corporation
Unifa Corporation is a start-up in the field of "Childcare-Tech" that aims to solve social issues related to childcare and childcare. Unifa develops and provides childcare support devices and services using IoT and AI, with the objective of "creating a new social infrastructure that creates happiness for families worldwide". Through the development of "Smart Nursery Schools, Smart Kindergartens and Smart Children's Schools", we are contributing to the creation of a society where it is easy to work while raising children.
About Us
-Company name Unifa Corporation
- CEO Yasuyuki Toki
-Established 2013
-Location 2F Sumitomo Fudosan Chiyoda Fujimi Building, 1-8-19 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
-Business overview Planning, development, sales and operation of the "Lucumi" series of childcare support services.
Development and promotion of "smart nursery schools, smart kindergartens and smart childcare centres".
Company URL https://unifa-e.com/
Unifa, which has been promoting the "Smart Nursery School" model school activity, has started the "Smart Kindergarten and Smart Children's School" model school activity with the aim of solving issues unique to kindergartens. They are aiming to improve the quality of childcare through measures such as improving operational efficiency and supporting documentation using photographs. Let's take a look at the release.