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Connect Childcare

The Most Trusted Nursery Management Software

Foundations House 16 Lindred Road , Lomeshaye Industrial Estate , Nelson , BB9 5SR

WHAT WE DO

For us it's not just about providing you with a great software platform, it's about being a great business partner. We are partnered with nurseries across the country and are always listening to their ideas to build our future road map.

Our mission is to improve the lives of children, globally. We can only achieve this by working with childcare professionals to create the very best tools, so that nursery management software is easy & efficient and child development is always the main focus. 

OUR MISSION

We develop management software that improves the lives of children, globally.

Through our software solutions, nurseries are becoming more efficient, enabling them to spend more time developing the children in their care. We are passionate about child development and support our customers to provide the very best quality childcare. Partnership is of the utmost importance to us. We work closely with our nurseries, as well as other knowledgeable institutions, like our partners; NDNA, to ensure that we are aware of the ever changing needs of the childcare sector. This allows us to adapt our software and our services to support nurseries to be successful and sustainable.

Our success is based on one key principle: that our business is above all a people business. Our people are the best in their fields and are able to draw on the knowledge and experience of their colleagues to grow professionally. We believe in continual improvement, and embrace opportunities to learn. Connect is also a place where commitment, talent and sheer hard work gets noticed and rewarded.

  • Group name
  • Connect Software Solutions LTD
  • Manager
  • Chris Reid
  • Features
  • Customer Support
  • Timings
  • Mon: 08:00 to 18:00
  • Tue: 08:00 to 18:00
  • Wed: 08:00 to 18:00
  • Thu: 08:00 to 18:00
  • Fri: 08:00 to 18:00

Additional details

Languages spoken: English

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What are some of the challenges facing smaller childcare settings? [Link]

Our CEO, Chris Reid, recently shared his thoughts with ChildCare Club surrounding how the right technology can help childminders, after school clubs, and small-scale nurseries streamline operations, and recoup more precious minutes in the day.

If you missed the original article on p32-33 in the e-magazine, you can catch up below…


No matter whether EY childcare settings are large or small, the sector is fast-paced for all professionals trying to juggle business management, child development, parental communications, and a work-life balance.

Add the uncertainty of a pandemic into the mix and the already high treadmill speed at which these practitioners and managers were once working is more elevated than ever before.

But while challenges surrounding lengthy admin tasks and there not being enough hours in the day have been exacerbated by the numerous lockdowns and social distancing measures, they’ve always existed for the sector. It’s a battle that’s been going on for many years.

Yet while many of the same hurdles exist for both nursery chains and childminders alike, the focus here is on the smaller providers – which often feel more neglected in an already left behind sector.

So what are some of the main barriers to change facing these settings, and how can technology help to bridge the divide? 


Operating with minimal budget

It’s no secret that childminders and smaller nurseries usually operate on much lower budgets than bigger childcare chains, and as a result, feel less able to embrace digitalisation – for fear of escalating costs. But this isn’t always the case.

Finding the right childcare software which offers a free version – not just for a trial period – alongside the features required for the effective running of the setting is crucial.

Finding enough time in the day

For providers logging child events and observations on paper, this is more time-consuming and less flexible than a digital solution.It’s not easy to complete these tasks when not at a desk, and this means it’s an ‘end of the day’ job for any activities carried out outside or during forest school sessions. Whereas a tech-based system would allow practitioners to access all management and observations quickly from their mobile phone – going completely paperless for a more streamlined setting and greener environment, too.

Feeling the administrative burden

Working through the daily pile of paperwork could be a full-time job in itself for childminders – often seeing them spend many hours per month carrying out invoicing tasks, registers, bookings, and observations.

The idea of implementing a centralised system in which all these to-dos are accessible in one place, and at the click of a button – instead of multiple spreadsheets or paper-based books – can feel like an unreachable reality without the help of technology, too.

Communicating quickly with parents

When observations and updates are sent manually – usually via text or email – this not only takes time for practitioners to pull all the information from multiple places into one area, but it’s also less time-savvy for parents to engage with.

Everyone leads busy lives and replying to emails can often feel like a chore at the end of a hectic workday, but if families don’t share their little one’s learning journey at home, it can leave childminders with a gap in their child development log. Being able to communicate in real-time with parents about what their children have been up to – sharing photos and resources – not only helps to foster better relationships with them, but actively engages them in their youngster’s education, too.