Getting Started as a Parent

Your childminder has invited you to KinderStart. Here's how to get in, what you'll see, and what stays private.

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

Getting Started as a Parent

💡Who this is for

Parents and carers whose childminder has invited them to KinderStart. By the end you'll be logged in, know what each part of the app shows you, and know what your childminder can and can't see. It takes about five minutes.

1. Open your invitation

Your childminder sends the invitation to your email address. Look for an email called "You've been invited to KinderStart Parent Portal".

  1. Open the email and tap Create Account.
  2. Check your name and email, then choose a password.
  3. Tap to finish. Your account is ready.

The link works for 7 days. If it has run out, ask your childminder to send it again.

Didn't get the email?

Check your junk folder first. If it isn't there, your childminder can check the address they typed and resend the invitation from your child's profile.

2. Get the app and log in

  1. Install KinderStart from the App Store or Google Play. You can also use it in a web browser at app.kinderstart.co.uk.
  2. Open it and choose I'm a Parent.
  3. Log in with your email and the password you chose.

You only log in once. The app keeps you signed in after that.

3. Turn on notifications

When the app asks, allow notifications. That's how you'll hear that a new diary entry, photo, form or invoice has arrived, rather than having to check. You can change this later in your phone's settings.

4. What you'll see

The home screen shows your child's activity feed: the latest diary entries, photos and notices from your childminder, newest first. The Menu (top left) opens everything else:

  • Daily Diary: meals, naps, nappies and activities for each day, with any photos.
  • Learning Journey: observations of what your child is learning, and their progress.
  • Documents & Contracts: forms to sign, your signed contract and consent forms.
  • Finances: your invoices, what's due and what's paid.
  • Log Injury at Home: tell your childminder about a bump or graze from home before drop-off.

If your child has a brother or sister at the same childminder, you'll see each child separately.

5. What stays private

  • You only see your own child. Other families never see your child's diary, photos or details.
  • Your childminder sees what you do in the app that is meant for them: forms you sign, comments you leave on the diary, and anything you post or report.
  • Photos are shared with you by your childminder. Think of them as private family photos: please don't post other children's faces online.

✅Why it works this way

Your childminder is required by Ofsted (or the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, CIW in Wales) to keep records of your child's day, learning and any accidents. KinderStart lets them share those records with you as they happen, instead of a paper diary at pick-up, and keeps a signed copy of every form so you both have the same version.

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.
Start Checklist→View Features

Next guide

Completing Your Child's Registration

→

Ready to try KinderStart?

Start your free trial and put these guides into action.

Download App

Subscribe to start your 7-day free trial • Cancel anytime

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.

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to visit this site you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more