Diaries, invoices and inspection records, done before the last pickup.
KinderStart is a childminder app for England, Wales and Scotland. Log meals and naps with one hand, send parents their diary, invoice funded hours and keep your records ready for Ofsted, Care Inspectorate Wales or the Care Inspectorate, all from your phone.
Everything you need to run your setting
The paperwork you do after the children go home, done during the day instead.
Send itemised professional invoices & calculate tax automatically
No more evening spreadsheets. KinderStart works out funded hours, adds consumables and chases late payments for you. Snap a photo of each receipt, and see your year by calendar or tax year when it is time to do your return.
Explore Invoicing & Tax
Log naps, meals and nappies with one hand
One tap for each entry, so you can fill in the diary with a baby on your hip. Parents see it on their phone as soon as you publish.
Explore Daily DiaryA step-by-step roadmap for your DBS or PVG checks, health forms, and training
Never lose track of what's next. Our registration tracker guides you through every document, deadline, and inspection requirement.
View Registration Tracker
Setting closed Bank Holiday Monday. All term-time schedules updated.
Accident & medication logs encrypted and stored until child's 21st birthday + 3 months.
Broadcast instant updates & lock safeguarding logs securely
Keep every parent informed with one tap. Plus, rest easy knowing accident and medication records are automatically encrypted and securely archived to meet statutory safeguarding and insurance retention periods (up to 21 years and 3 months).
Explore Noticeboard & ComplianceWhat childminders tell us
In their own words, from messages and reviews they've sent us.
"Other well-known apps felt overcomplicated and cluttered. KinderStart is a game-changer—it's clearly built with childminders in mind. I wouldn't go back to anything else."
"I can do things with just one hand and quickly! It's simple but has everything I need to be paperless. My time with the children isn't taken up, but nor is my time after work!"
"Everything is on my phone rather than having to get out my paperwork at the end of the day. You've got everything from attendance to tax and earnings. Absolutely love it!"
"The fact that you can do everything within one app was a massive selling point for me. The cost is minimal in comparison to other apps and it does exactly what I need!"
Free guides for childminders
Ofsted & Care Inspectorate Registration in 2026: The Complete Roadmap
Registration Accelerator Hub: Launch Your Business
Mock Inspection Simulator: Practice with AI
The Best Childminding Apps in the UK (2026 Comparison)
England EYFS Curriculum & Ofsted Childminder App
Scotland ELC Curriculum & Care Inspectorate Childminder App
Curriculum for Wales & CIW Childminder App
Browse All 50+ Guides & Templates
Who builds KinderStart
I'm Dan. I write the code behind KinderStart, and when you email support, I'm the one who replies.
Most of the app started as a message from a childminder: a form that didn't match what inspectors ask for, an invoice that got funded hours wrong, a diary screen that needed two hands. Those get fixed first, and every change goes in the changelog so you can see what's moved.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Start for free, upgrade when you grow.
Starter
Forever Free while you get registered
- Step-by-step registration roadmap
- Basic Document Templates
- Home Safety Checklist
Standard
Equivalent of £10 per month • Billed annually
Subscribe to start your 7-day free trial • Cancel anytime
- Everything in Starter
- Unlimited Children
- Daily Diaries
- 10GB Photo & Document Storage
- Forms for Ofsted, CIW & the Care Inspectorate
- Invoicing & Expenses
- Making Tax Digital Integration
Switching from Famly, Tapestry or paper? See how the apps compare
Where your records live
Children's records are sensitive, so here is exactly how we handle them.
Stored in the UK
Your data is held on Amazon Web Services in London, not overseas.
Encrypted
Encrypted while it travels to and from your phone, and while it is stored.
ICO registered
Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, reference ZC105416.
Kept as long as the law asks
Accident and medication records are kept until the child turns 21 years and 3 months, as insurers and regulators require.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about starting with KinderStart.
Try it on tonight's paperwork
Seven days free. Add your children, send one invoice and fill in one diary, then decide.
No contract. No setup fees.
Cancel anytime.