Founded in 1985 to serve Tokyo’s expatriate community, Tokyo Union Church Early Learning Center (TUC ELC) offers classes carefully designed to meet the intellectual, social, spiritual, and physical needs of children ages 2 to 5 years old. In a Christian non-competitive community, children can blossom to their fullest potential while being exposed to many experiences that help to promote creativity, initiative, independence, respect, awareness and empathy. Our success is evident not only in the easy adjustment children make to our nurturing environment, but also in our reputation within the community of international schools and the frequency with which parents return to enroll younger siblings.

Play is highly valued at TUC ELC. It encourages children to explore, to take risks, to make choices and to socialize in a fun and safe way. Most days we have the opportunity to have indoor and outdoor play. In morning free play children can choose activities among table top activities, art activities, floor play (construction and puzzles), dramatic play in the theme corner and quiet reading in the book corner.  Our emphasis is on:

• Dramatic Play – regularly changing theme center allows children to act out real life situations and make believe play.
• Constructive Play – children can use a variety of materials to create or construct something from a plan they have in mind.
• Functional Play – during center time children can manipulate and explore toys and other objects to learn in a ‘hands on’ manner.
• Group Turn Taking Games – encourage children to play together in a non competitive environment according to a set of rules.

Classes are conducted in English with low teacher:student ratios, providing our students with plenty of individual attention. Our qualified and experienced staff supplements the core curriculum of level-appropriate literacy and mathematics with a variety of enrichment activities such as Japanese language lessons, Music & Movement, Library and Bible Stories. Throughout the school year various excursions are planned to places of particular interest.

Our student body is a rich, multi-cultural, international mix. While Tokyo Union Church Early Learning Center is a program ministry of Tokyo Union Church, we warmly welcome families of all cultures and religious faiths.

As parents, you are your child’s primary educator and we encourage you to participate in the early childhood programs at the Tokyo Union Church Early Learning Center. We invite your involvement in all areas of programs.

For additional information on our program, please see the Parent Handbook.(PDF file)