Setting up KinderStart for your stage

The first time you log in, KinderStart asks a few questions about where you are in your childminding journey. Your answers decide what you see first: the registration tracker, your visit preparation, or a setup checklist for your business.

1. Tell us about you

Enter your name and your setting's postcode, then tap Continue. Both are optional. Your postcode picks your region, England, Scotland or Wales, which decides your regulator and curriculum. You can change the region yourself if it's wrong.

2. Choose where you are

Pick the card that matches you, then tap Continue:

• I'm getting ready to register: training, checks and paperwork before you apply.
• I've applied and I'm waiting: preparing for your registration visit.
• I've just registered: no children yet, so you're setting up from scratch.
• I'm already childminding: bringing your existing families over from paper or another app.

Nothing is picked for you, so Continue only works once you've chosen.

3. Answer a few quick questions

KinderStart asks one or two questions for your stage:

• Getting ready to register: tick the tasks you've already done, like your first aid course. They arrive already complete on your tracker.
• Applied and waiting: when you applied, and your visit date if it's booked.
• Just registered: your Ofsted URN (or Care Inspectorate number) and the date you were registered.
• Already childminding: your registration number, and roughly how many children you care for.

Tap Finish, or I'll do this later to skip the questions.

4. Work through your setup checklist

If you're registered, your home screen shows a setup checklist for your first two weeks. For a new setting it covers:

1. Add your registration number
2. Set your business details
3. Set your term dates & opening days
4. Add your first child & parents
5. Create a childcare contract
6. Take a test register

If you're already childminding, the list asks you to add your children, Invite parents to fill in their details, and Record your paper contracts instead.

Each step ticks itself off once it's done, and tapping it opens the screen that does it. Video guides & help at the bottom of the card opens Support & Guidance.

What to do next

• Tracking your childminder registration: if you're getting ready to register.
• Setting up your business: your business details, rates and term dates.
• Adding your first child: when you're ready for your first family.