European Childcare and Nursery Management Software Tools

#1 Famly

Copenhagen, Denmark Foundation £79 a month, Premium £159 a month (excluding VAT at 20%); higher tiers not read Demo on request

Best for: UK and Nordic nurseries that want published prices and one platform for parents, staff and finances

• Operating company. Famly ApS
• Jurisdiction. EU (Denmark)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Famly is nursery software from Famly ApS of Copenhagen that puts parent messaging, daily logs, child development, rotas and payments on one platform. Staff log sleep, nappies and medication, while parents see a personal feed. Rotas calculate ratios automatically, and a Sidekick writing assistant is listed among the pricing page's top features.

The terms give a Copenhagen address and a Danish VAT number, and the data processing agreement makes the customer the controller. Famly publishes two tiers, Foundation at £79 and Premium at £159 a month excluding VAT, with a Save £240 label for annual billing. The hosting country is not named, and the arbitration clause in the terms deserves a read.

Standout feature. Famly is the only tool here with support phone numbers for the US, UK, Denmark, Norway and Germany, listed on its own pages.

#2 Kinderpedia

Bucharest, Romania Starter €49 per centre a month billed annually (from €0.72 per student a month); Essentials €99 per centre a month (from €1.2 per student a month) Demo on request

Best for: Small nurseries, after-school clubs and private schools that want published euro prices and one app for staff and parents

• Operating company. Kinderpedia SRL
• Jurisdiction. EU (Romania)
• Where the data sits. not stated; servers described as military-grade data centers without a country
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Kinderpedia is a school and nursery platform from Kinderpedia SRL in Bucharest, covering attendance, messaging, a newsfeed, basic invoicing and a mobile app for parents and staff. Essentials adds QR code check-in, a weekly menu planner, allergy and medical records and online payments. Gradebook and assignments reflect its school roots.

Starter costs €49 and Essentials €99 per centre a month on annual billing, equal to €0.72 and €1.2 per student. Starter includes ten staff seats and 30 GB. The privacy policy lists offices in Lisbon, Baar, London, Abu Dhabi and São Paulo, and the vendor claims more than 2,000 schools and nurseries. Servers are described without a country.

Standout feature. Kinderpedia is the only tool here that prints a per-student monthly rate next to the per-centre price.

#3 Cheqdin Childcare

Aberdeen, United Kingdom Rise free up to 5 students; Starter 68 a month up to 75 students; Grow 99 a month up to 150 students; Pro 149 a month up to 275 students (excluding taxes; currency symbol not shown in the text we read) Demo on request

Best for: Small nurseries, after-school and wrap-around clubs that want online registrations and automated billing with a free entry plan

• Operating company. Databotix Limited (trading as Cheqdin Childcare Software)
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Cheqdin Childcare is the product of Databotix Limited of Aberdeen and is made of four parts: CheqForm for registrations, CheqBook for bookings and payments, CheqBill for rule-based bill runs and CheqComms for parent messages. It targets daycares, after-school programmes and wrap-around care rather than full-day nurseries with learning records.

Rise is free up to five students, and the paid plans run from 68 a month for 75 students to 149 for 275, with no currency symbol in the text we read. Payments go through GoCardless or Stripe, and Xero is a listed link. The terms disclaim legal compliance outside the United Kingdom, a clause that matters for EU buyers.

Standout feature. Cheqdin Childcare is the only tool here with a free plan, limited to five students, and registration forms that embed on the provider's own site.

#4 eyworks

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Founded 2012 Priced per branch by children on roll, excluding VAT, all product features included; amounts shown through a slider not visible in the text we read Demo on request

Best for: UK nurseries and small groups that want to pay by setting size and keep data hosted in the UK

• Operating company. eyworks Limited
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. United Kingdom (privacy notice states customer data is hosted within the UK)
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

eyworks is a UK nursery platform from eyworks Limited, a company in Milton Keynes that traces its roots to eyLog, founded in 2012. Its modules cover administration, enquiries through to enrolment, learning journeys, a parent portal, staffing and HR, with invoicing and occupancy added in 2015. A recruitment job board is sold separately by active jobs.

The subscription is priced by children on roll per branch, excluding VAT, and the pricing page says all features, updates and support by email, phone and chat are included. The privacy notice says customer data is hosted within the United Kingdom. Amounts sit behind a slider we could not read, and some payment features use an outside bank access partner.

Standout feature. eyworks is the only tool here that states UK hosting for customer data and includes every feature in the subscription.

#5 Proles Software

Zwartebroek, Netherlands Founded 2003 Fixed monthly amount including VAT, based on the number of LRK registration numbers and childcare places, plus optional modules; amounts not shown on the pages we read Demo on request

Best for: Small Dutch day nurseries, BSO and TSO organisations that want a fixed monthly price, no start-up fees and Dutch tax authority exports

• Operating company. Proles Software B.V.
• Jurisdiction. EU (Netherlands)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read; the site says storage meets GDPR (AVG) requirements
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Proles Software is Dutch childcare planning software from Proles Software B.V. in Zwartebroek, with roots in 2003 and an independent B.V. since 2010. It serves day care, after-school care, playgroups and integrated child centres. Child planning shows free places and bottlenecks, and parents can sign contracts digitally and use iOS and Android apps.

Invoicing follows the planning, so changed days appear on the next invoice. Staff planning checks the BKR ratio, and exports cover KOI for the tax authority, SEPA, MT-940 and accounting software. The monthly amount includes VAT and depends on LRK numbers and places, though no figure appeared. The site is Dutch and no learning journal is described.

Standout feature. Proles Software is the only tool here that exports KOI files for the Dutch tax authority.

#6 Tapestry

Lewes, United Kingdom not shown on the pages we read; the home page offers Try Tapestry for Free Demo on request

Best for: Nurseries, childminders and primary schools that put observation and family engagement before back-office features

• Operating company. The Foundation Stage Forum Limited
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read; stored data is covered by a separate contract
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Tapestry is a learning journal and nursery management service from The Foundation Stage Forum Limited in Lewes. Educators record learning against EYFS or Key Stage 1 and 2 and share it with families. The vendor says photos, video, audio and documents are unlimited, and that staff and relatives can be added without a cap.

The nursery layer adds invoicing, occupancy planning, smart booking and attendance registers for children and staff. The privacy policy names a data protection officer and points to the ICO. Stored data is governed by a separate contract that we did not read, and no prices or hosting country appeared. The home page offers a free trial.

Standout feature. Tapestry is the only tool here that covers learning journals for nurseries and for primary years up to Key Stage 2.

#7 Kinderly

Bath, United Kingdom not shown on the pages we read; free 30-day trial offered Demo on request

Best for: Small UK nurseries and childminders that want learning journeys and parent updates in one app, plus training for staff

• Operating company. Nursery Book Limited (trading as Kinderly)
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Kinderly is the trading name of Nursery Book Limited, an English company with its registered office at the University of Bath Innovation Centre. The Together app captures EYFS milestones, sends updates to parents and produces reports. Separate versions exist for nurseries and for childminders, and an Accounts Bundle targets small providers.

Kinderly Learn adds short CPD courses and webinars for practitioners, and the About page names PACEY, Achievement for All and Bath Spa University as expert partners. A free 30-day trial is offered. Prices, billing, rotas and hosting are absent from the text we read, and the footer copyright reads 2018.

Standout feature. Kinderly is the only tool here that sells a practitioner training library next to its parent app.

#8 Ovivio

Thame, United Kingdom not shown on the pages we read; the site offers a cost saving calculator and contact with an early years expert Demo on request

Best for: UK day nurseries, preschools, nursery groups and Montessori settings that want finance, staffing and parent tools from one supplier

• Operating company. Blossom Educational Limited (trading as Ovivio)
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Ovivio is the trading name of Blossom Educational Limited in Thame, whose site describes 35 years in childcare from Blossom and KidsKonnect to Ovivio. The software groups finances, staffing, communication, enquiries and learning. Whole sites are invoiced in minutes, rotas and ratios are reported across rooms, and a funding calculator works out funded hours.

Ovivio advertises free migration and onboarding and UK phone and email support, and publishes a data processing agreement naming HelloDPO Law Ltd as data protection officer. It has pages for Montessori, groups and after-school clubs, and a Dutch language version. No price, hosting country or parent company appeared in the text we read.

Standout feature. Ovivio is the only tool here that advertises free migration from paper or from another provider.

#9 Connect Childcare

not stated on the pages we read, United Kingdom not shown on the pages we read; book a demo Demo on request

Best for: UK nursery groups and independent nurseries that want a long-established supplier with a parent app and training resources

• Operating company. Connect Software Solutions Ltd (trading as Connect Childcare)
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Connect Childcare is the trading name of Connect Software Solutions Ltd, a UK supplier that says it has worked with nurseries since 2004. Its products are iConnect for management, ParentZone for parents and Connect Cashflow for finances. The site also hosts eBooks, a management guide and an early years staffing hub.

The vendor claims that 70% of the top 25 UK nursery chains use its software, which we did not check. The privacy policy covers the website and excludes nursery data, so the data processing terms must be requested. No prices, hosting country or registered address appeared, and buying runs through a demo.

Standout feature. Connect Childcare is the only tool here that sells a separate cashflow product to nurseries.

#10 Little Bird

Berlin, Germany not shown on the pages we read; presentation appointment on request Demo on request

Best for: German municipalities, church and independent providers and Kitas that need a place allocation and parent portal

• Operating company. LITTLE BIRD GmbH
• Jurisdiction. EU (Germany)
• Where the data sits. Germany (vendor states certified hosting in Germany)
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

Little Bird is administration and place allocation software from LITTLE BIRD GmbH in Berlin, registered as HRB 123769 B. Municipalities, church and independent providers use it, with a parent portal for registering for a place, a regional Kita finder and the KIKOM app. An online academy and remote maintenance complete the range.

The vendor states that hosting is certified and located in Germany, with encrypted traffic, multi-stage backups and strict data separation. After a request reaches a municipality or provider, Little Bird processes it on their instruction. Prices, billing and daily reports were not visible, and apart from the imprint and privacy policy the site is German.

Standout feature. Little Bird is the only tool here that combines a regional Kita finder with place allocation for municipalities.

#11 KitaPlus

Düsseldorf, Germany Monthly net price per Kita, tiered by number of facilities (1-9, 10-24, 25 and more); amounts not visible in the text we read Demo on request

Best for: German Kita providers with several facilities that want one system for administration, parents, meals and rotas

• Operating company. BMS Berens Mosiek Siemes Consulting GmbH
• Jurisdiction. EU (Germany)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

KitaPlus is Kita software offered by BMS Berens Mosiek Siemes Consulting GmbH in Düsseldorf. The base module holds follow-ups, SEPA direct debit, receivable accounts, a staffing plan and recalculation. Parent app, group app, meal portal, rota and time recording and a registration portal are sold as extra modules.

Interfaces reach LittleBird for registrations and Diamant, Datev, SAP and MACH for accounting. The net monthly price per Kita depends on the number of facilities, in bands of 1-9, 10-24 and 25 or more, and provider and admin accounts cost nothing extra. Euro amounts were not visible, hosting is not stated and the site is in German.

Standout feature. KitaPlus is the only tool here priced purely by the number of facilities, with unlimited provider accounts.

#12 KinderSoft

Moretonhampstead, United Kingdom not shown on the pages we read; a no obligation trial version can be downloaded Demo on request

Best for: UK nurseries that prefer installed software on their own computers with a UK support desk, rather than a cloud subscription

• Operating company. Showcase Computer Systems Ltd
• Jurisdiction. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
• Where the data sits. not stated on the pages we read; the site describes a downloaded program, not a cloud service
• Source code. Closed source
• Replaces. Brightwheel

KinderSoft is nursery management software from Showcase Computer Systems Ltd in Moretonhampstead, Devon. The site covers day care, pre-schools, out of school clubs and children's centres, with support for the Early Years Single Funding Formula. The vendor says hundreds of nurseries use it, a claim we did not check.

The pages tell users to update, activate and register their copy, so KinderSoft appears to be installed on the nursery's own computers. A trial version can be downloaded, and a support desk, remote assistance and documentation are listed. No modules, prices, parent app or privacy policy appeared in the single page we read.

Standout feature. KinderSoft is the only tool here that the site presents as a downloaded program rather than a cloud service.