November 2023 Parenta magazine

Picking the perfect nursery
management software for
your early years setting
M O N E Y
B A C K
GUARANTEE
M O N E Y
B A C K
Your time is extremely valuable and the
realisation that nursery management
software can liberate you and your
dedicated staff from the burdensome
paperwork that’s integral to running a
successful nursery is a great feeling!
We’ve compiled our top tips to help you
make the right software selection.
Why should you consider nursery
management software for your setting?
The benefits are vast. It’s all about
reclaiming your time and gaining instant
insight into every part of your childcare
business. If you’re currently snowed under
in traditional data admin methods and
manually sifting through reports, going
digital will change your life.
Affordability vs long-term gain
While purchasing software might come
with an upfront cost, the time and money
you’ll save in the long run make it a sound
financial decision you won’t regret! Nursery
management systems excel in managing
every aspect of your setting, from invoicing
and staff schedules to tracking children’s
progress and safeguarding sensitive data.
By eliminating arduous administrative
tasks, you and your team can channel
your resources into what truly matters - the
well-being of the children in your care.
Research!
While numerous software providers may
seem indistinguishable at first glance,
investing time in exploring various options
pays off. Look into their customer base,
experience, reputation, and credit rating.
Customer feedback on their website and
on platforms like Google and Trustpilot
will show a company’s commitment to
customer experience and are telltale signs
of a provider’s reliability.
Data protection and storage
Data protection and storage policies
are paramount, especially when taking
GDPR into consideration. A reputable
company should stay current with
these requirements and demonstrate a
commitment to data security. Remember
to ask where and how your data will
be stored, backup frequency, and
the presence of ISO accreditation for
information security.
Capability
Compliance with Ofsted requirements
is a must, necessitating a system that
streamlines the recording of children’s
development and safeguards sensitive
information. It’s also incredibly important
to be able to see at a glance two
important variables within your business
- gaps in staffing and capacity within your
setting. Look out for software that allows
you to quickly identify these elements of
your business – this can help you make
important decisions at the touch of a few
buttons.
Embrace the change!
While the initial data migration might
seem daunting, focusing on the longterm
benefits keep you on track. Reliable
providers offer dedicated support during
the transition.
Look for companies which can migrate
your data and have your system up and
running in a matter of days, with software
hosted online and tailored to your needs,
and money-back guarantees for your
peace of mind.
Software demonstrations provide a crucial
opportunity for evaluation. Assess the
demo’s helpfulness, and the quality of
customer service, and don’t forget to ask
questions!
Training
Training is the secret to harnessing
the software’s full potential. Seek
comprehensive training packages, ideally
with unlimited, free-of-charge options.
Ongoing training should be part of the
deal, ensuring you stay up to speed with
the system.
Reporting
Reporting often emerges as a timeconsuming
and exasperating task, but
choosing a system that delivers seamless
reports at the touch of a button, is
essential.
Your time is valuable which is why quick
insights into room capacity, staff ratios,
registers, and dietary requirements are
as vital as detailed reports on specific
data like outstanding payments, funded
entitlement allocation, registers, milk, or
occupancy.
Every setting must periodically assess
its financial health. Reports like ‘agedbalance
reports’ and ‘future fee
predictions’ provide insights into your
nursery’s financial efficiency. You need
to be able to project revenue over a year
based on current occupancy, equipping
you for future childcare management
decisions.
Upgrades
The digital world is moving at a fast pace
and most of the software on the market
can become out of date in time. When it
comes to upgrades, select a provider with
an in-house development team dedicated
to keeping the software current at no extra
cost.
With our software, you
are GUARANTEED to:
Save time
Increase efficiency
Boost productivity
Enjoy speedy invoicing
Ensure compliance
Gain full staff training
and support with
learning the new system
Call 0800 002 9242 and quote ’Magazine’
6 November 2023 | parenta.com