Starting your day on the home screen

See who's in and what needs doing, log things quickly with the + button, and complete today's safety check.

Written byDaniel Broadhurst (Founder)|Published: 18 June 2026|
Ofsted Aligned

ℹ️Who this is for

Childminders using KinderStart. Home is the first screen you see every time you open the app. Logging with the

+

button needs the Standard plan or a free trial. It takes about three minutes to learn.

Video Walkthrough

Once you're registered, Home is where your day starts: who's in, what needs doing, and quick ways to log things.

1. See the day at a glance

At the top, Home shows how many children are in, out, napping and absent today. Below that are any alerts that need you, such as an unsigned contract, a certificate about to expire, or a child who was never signed out. Pull down to refresh.

2. Log things quickly with +

Tap the + button in the bottom-right corner. It opens quick actions you can use without opening a child first: Attendance, Log Meal, Naps, Bathroom, Sun Cream, Add Learning Entry, Noticeboard, Book Session and Ask KinderAssist.

  • Book Session adds extra days for a child outside their usual contract, for example to cover a parent's appointment.
  • Ask KinderAssist answers compliance questions, with references to sources such as the EYFS framework and Ofsted's handbook.

3. Complete today's safety check

When a check is due, a bar at the top says so: the Morning Safety Check first thing, and the Close Down Check at the end of the day. Tap it, tick each area as you check it, and save. It's recorded with the time.

Why KinderStart does it this way

Your safety checks, today's children and anything overdue are the first things you need each morning, so they're the first things Home shows. Logging from Home saves opening each child's diary for everyday entries.

Before you're registered

If you haven't registered yet, Home looks different. It shows a Target: Become a Childminder progress bar and your current registration tasks. Once you've sent your application, it tracks the checks and your registration visit. When you're registered, it becomes the daily screen above.

What to do next

🚀
Track Your Progress
Don't get lost in the paperwork. Use our free interactive checklist to tick off each step as you complete it.

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KinderStart strives for accuracy. Competitor features and pricing comparisons are based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details are subject to change by respective providers.

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