KinderSoft
Devon desktop nursery software with EYSFF support and a downloadable trial
Summary table
| Company | Showcase Computer Systems Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Childcare and Nursery Management Software |
| Headquarters | Moretonhampstead, United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom |
| Data Location | not stated on the pages we read; the site describes a downloaded program, not a cloud service |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes |
| Main Features | Nursery management for day care, pre-schools, out of school clubs and children's centres, support for the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF), trial version, remote assistance, support desk |
| Pricing | not shown on the pages we read; a no obligation trial version can be downloaded |
| Best For | UK nurseries that prefer installed software on their own computers with a UK support desk, rather than a cloud subscription |
| Replaces | Brightwheel |
Full review
KinderSoft is published by Showcase Computer Systems Ltd, whose contact page gives the address 2 Tower Park, Moretonhampstead, Devon, TQ13 8NZ. The site tells visitors to update, activate and register their copy, which points to installed software.
KinderSoft says hundreds of nurseries use it, across private day care, pre-schools, out of school clubs, children's centres, corporate childcare and the NHS. That figure is the vendor's own claim.
What the KinderSoft site describes
KinderSoft is presented as nursery management software for day-to-day running, with full support for the Early Years Single Funding Formula. The vendor says it keeps developing the program to follow industry guidelines.
The pages we read list no individual modules, so billing, registers and reports must be checked in the trial.
Support and trial
The site offers a trial version for download and pages for remote assistance, a support desk with stated times, documentation, FAQs and a way to upload files to the support desk.
The home page shows no price, and the order page was not read.
KinderSoft as a European alternative to Brightwheel
KinderSoft is an installed UK product, so data can stay on the nursery's own computers, where Brightwheel is a hosted service for the US market. That is an inference from the download-and-activate wording, not a stated hosting policy.
The pages we read show no parent app, daily reports or online payments.
Where it falls short
The KinderSoft pages we read show no prices, module list, parent app, privacy policy or imprint beyond the contact address. Parent messaging and daily reports are not listed, so a nursery that wants them needs another tool. The funding formula support refers to English local authority practice. For a cloud suite with a parent app see Famly.
Is KinderSoft right for you?
UK private nurseries and out of school clubs that prefer installed software, a trial download and a UK support desk.
What works, what does not
Pros
- Company name and Devon address stated
- Trial version available to download
- Funding formula support stated
- Remote assistance and support desk listed
- Data can stay on the nursery's computers (inferred)
Cons
- No prices on the pages we read
- No parent app or daily reports described
- No privacy policy read
- Single page of product text
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Company name and Devon address stated
- Trial version available to download
- Funding formula support stated
- Remote assistance and support desk listed
- Data can stay on the nursery's computers (inferred)
Cons
- No prices on the pages we read
- No parent app or daily reports described
- No privacy policy read
- Single page of product text
Alternatives to KinderSoft
More European childcare and nursery management software you can weigh against it:
See all European childcare and nursery management software or compare them directly against Brightwheel on our alternatives page.
Questions buyers ask
Yes for UK nurseries that want installed software. Showcase Computer Systems Ltd in Devon publishes KinderSoft with EYSFF support. It lists no parent app on the pages we read.
The site speaks of downloading a trial, updating your version and activating your copy, which describes an installed program. It does not state a hosting country or a cloud option.
The pages we read show no price. A no obligation trial version can be downloaded and an order page exists but was not read.