Looking for affordable Childcare Management Solutions?

Management Software | Time and Attendance | Security Systems

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Features include:• Centralised child data

in line with OFSTED requirements

• Fee and Income processing, including NEF returns and Milk Claims.

• Flexible bookings

• Waiting List management

• Registers

• Occupancy

• Staff module including rotas, payroll and training.

• Group Reporting

• Full data export

• 3rd party accounting integration

• Fingerprint time and attendance and Access Control

• EYFS monitoring

• Hosted and web based solutions available.

Scalable

Here at Connect, we’ve recognised that the UK childcare market is very diverse. With settings ranging from pre-schools and after school clubs operating out of scout halls straight up to some of the largest care companies in the land it would seem obvious that management requirements will differ. The basic issues will remain the same with government legislation providing headaches to childcare operators both large and small, however it’s in the scalability and analysis of key performance data that differences occur.

A complete management system

Developed by Connect Software after many years of working within the UK Childcare sector, the ConnectChildcare™ package is, in short, a complete management system for Childcare operators of any size. Every area of activity is covered, including:

Affordable

Connect have addressed this fundamental issue and, unlike our competitors in the market for childcare management software have taken the decision to develop scalable software to cover the requirements of the entire market. By adopting a structured approach to the delivery of our management software we can ensure that we have a solution that fits into even the tightest of budgets.

ConnectChildcare™ is an SQL based management software package delivered over the internet or installed on your existing PC’s.

It has been designed from the ground up to operate in line with the Government’s Every Child Matters strategy and covers the requirements of both Public and Private Sector operators, in budget and on-time. Our solutions are in use in over 400 sites nationally and cover all the aspects of running a busy childcare setting.

The Connect Technology Group is an ISO 9001 registered specialist in the supply, installation and support of Nursery Management Software and Security Systems to the UK Childcare sector.

Connect Childcare | Childcare Management Solutions

Scalable

• Private and Public Sector Nurseries

• Extended Services

• After School and Holiday Schemes

• Family Services

• Children’s Centres

Our range of Childcare Management Solutions are installed across the whole sector including:

StandardPerfect for smaller pre-schools and after school clubs that only need the software to be installed on one computer or laptop and don’t need particularly advanced reporting options.

ProfessionalDesigned to address the needs of larger single site childcare settings, our Professional version can be networked on multiple machines and has extended reporting and fee calculation options. Web based or self hosted options are available.

Enterprise Our Enterprise version allows large childcare chains and Local Authorities to analyse group data centrally and in real time. Day to day administration takes place at a local level allowing senior management to concentrate on measuring setting performance and KPI’s. Web based or self hosted options available.

Enquiry Bookings Finances Staff Reporting Services Security Support

Occupancy Check Child Profile Invoicing Training Full Data Export Fingerprint Access Telephone Helplines

Waiting List Booking Patterns Direct Debit Work Planning Graphical Reporting CCTV Quarterly Upgrades

Referral Details Billings Details Standing Order Time and Attendance PDF Creation Installation Online Training

Reminders Accidents Payment Diary and Alerts Email Option Support Ticket System

Web Based Enquiry Medication Receipts PayrollReporting Suite andSelf Customisation

Registers Flexible Funding

Childcare Vouchers

Whilst ConnectChildcare is available in 3 versions,to ensure we have a package to meet any requirementor budget, all versions comprise the same core modules.

3 Contact sales now on 0844 37 111 37 to see how easy it is to get connected

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ConnectChildcare™ allows for any combination of session structure and costing. Our user-defined sessions can be set up for any hour of any day for any age range or charge band. This allows us to provide the ultimate in flexibility when it comes to booking sessions for children and ensures that however complex your session structure, ConnectChildcare has the ability to reflect them accurately.

Once sessions have been created as part of the initial system setup, a child’s bookings become the driving force behind the entire program. The creation of a booking pattern filters through the package to provide key information in the following areas:

• Invoice creation/ fee processing

• Grant/ Flexible funding calculations

• Daily/ Weekly registers

• Milk monitoring claims

The simple to use booking form allows users to set regular patterns of attendance, with mid month changes accommodated with ease and reflected immediately within fee processing and registers.

Planned sessions then populate our bookings planner with the ability to make ad hoc changes simply and at the touch of a button. Historical changes can be viewed ensuring that trends are highlighted and brought to the user’s attention.

The planner also enables bookings to be allocated where predetermined patterns are not possible e.g. irregular shift patterns, drop in services etc.

A simple 3 click process ensures all sessions are booked and added to registers, fee processing and grant calculations saving time, effort and most importantly eliminating costly mistakes.

ConnectChildcare™ allows for any combination of session structure and costing. Our user-defined sessions can be set up for any hour of any day for any age range or charge band. This allows us to provide the ultimate in flexibility when

The simple to use booking form allows users to set regular patterns of attendance, with mid month changes accommodated with ease and reflected immediately within fee processing and registers.

ConnectChildcare™ allows for any combination of session structure and costing. Our user-defined sessions can be set up for any hour of any day for any age range or charge band. This allows us to provide the ultimate in flexibility when it comes to booking sessions for children and ensures that however complex your session structure, ConnectChildcare has the ability to reflect them accurately.

The simple to use booking form allows users to set regular patterns of attendance, with mid month changes accommodated with ease and reflected immediately within fee processing and registers.

Planned sessions then populate our bookings planner with the ability to make ad hoc changes simply and at the touch of a button. Historical changes can be viewed ensuring that

ConnectChildcare™ allows for any combination of session structure and costing. Our user-defined sessions can be set up for any hour of any day for any age range or charge band. This allows us to provide the ultimate in flexibility when

Connect Childcare | Childcare Management Solutions

Flexible

5 Contact sales now on 0844 37 111 37 to see how easy it is to get connected

Once an initial enquiry is converted to a confirmed registration, further child details can be recorded in line with OFSTED guidelines. It provides a centralised area to keep all registration information with any profile data accessible at the touch of a button.

• Child reference number

• Name

• Sex

• Ethnic origin

• First language

• Date of birth

• Start date

• End date

• Emergency contacts

• Bill payers

• Account history and statements

• Medical history/permission

• Doctors contact details

• Accident reporting

• Covert child protection monitoring

• Authorised collectors

• Photographs

• EYFS profile in line with statutory framework

• Associated schools

Invoicing• Batch or transactional

invoicing

• Supports multiple bill payers and sponsors e.g. separated parents, company accounts

• Cross site invoicing

• Family Accounts

• Simple credit processing

• Aged balances

Forecasting• Future fees forecast

by group, site or family

• Future occupancy reporting

• Associated Schools

Payment/income processing• Budget payment

plans can be setup to facilitate DD/ Standing Order payments with direct link to BACS system.

• Voucher processingand tracking

• Nursery Education Fund calculator ensuring care is given free at the point of delivery

• Full payment processing with audit trail

• Statement of Accounts

Finances – save moneywhilst you make money

Our finances module brings together all the financial elements related to the operation of a busy UK Childcare chain and covers the following key areas:

Comprehensive Child Data in one place

Total Sage IntegrationAs a Sage Developer we have ensured that ConnectChildcare™ links seamlessly into their full range of accounting packages. We can also link into many others so there is no need to change your other backend systems when you introduce ConnectChildcare™.

Contact Sales on 0844 37 111 37 to discuss our Connect + Sage Accounts and Payroll Bundles

Child Details

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For many administrators the computer they use at work is their only contact with IT, and so an intuitive approach is essential for the smooth running of the business.

ConnectChildcare™ is particularly beneficial for companies changing from paper-based to computerised systems, or groups on the acquisition trail, where quick integration is vital.

ConnectChildcare™ has been designed with ease of use in mind. The system is logical and ‘childcare friendly’ and ensures that even the most die-hard of technophobes can feel comfortable with the use of the system. All elements

of the software are available with the minimum amount of system navigation and contain everything a user would need and nothing that they don’t.

The main toolbar is the gateway to the various database modules and enables the user to access any aspect of the software from any screen with the minimum amount of fuss.

The system understands your company structure and only shows details of the sites you are responsible for. The same system can be used for 1 or 1000 sites, without any upgrades or changes to the product. Just add the sites on - it’s as simple as that.

Everything you need and nothing you don’t

Connect Childcare | Childcare Management Solutions

Connect offers an up-to-date approach to staff time sheets and parent registration by replacing manual records with smart cards and electronic data collection. The system provides software tools for analysis, archive and the creation of management reports. Time and attendance information can be exported as Excel format, which is compatible with most payroll systems.

Hardware options include fingerprint, swipe card or iConnect touchscreen interfaces. Many of our devices have the ability to lock and unlock doors ensuring that only authorised collectors have access to the building.

Biometric access control and time and attendance

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Cloud based or self hosted - you decideConnectChildcare™ has been developed from the ground up to take full advantage of Microsoft SQL Server database technology, which ensures unlimited concurrent users can access relevant and timely data when they want, from where they want in the organisation. Simple system configuration allows directors and senior management to see key financial and operational performance for the group as a whole, whilst Site Managers and users have access to their own area of control, with passwords and log-ins restricting access to sensitive information.

The system can be delivered in 2 ways:1. Install ConnectChildcare™ on your computer

or server, with each remote site connected through a virtual network over a broadband connection.

2. Let us host and back up the database for you and simply ‘dial in’ over a broadband connection. Our unique method of data connection involves the provision of a USB ‘dongle’ which allows the user to connect to the database, securely from any PC that has an internet connection.

Both options enable group data to be stored in one place, easing data backup and analysis, whilst each remote user views only a restricted part of the program. The system is easily upgraded from one version to the next, so no matter which version you start on, you can be assured that ConnectChildcare™ will suit your needs both now and into the future, growing as your company grows.

With ConnectChildcare™Hosted, your data is as safe as housesAll communication with the ConnectChildcare™ server from your PC is encrypted, using industry standard encryption. This ensures that your data cannot be read by anyone else on its way to us.

We backup your data and store it off-site in two separate locations and we regularly test these backups to ensure that, should the worst happen, they will restore all your data back to how it was.

This usually means your data is significantly safer with us than it would be on your own machines!

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ConnectChildcare™ provides you with a new level of reporting. The data is automatically consolidated, using your group structure, and can be drilled down through all levels to the actual base data.

This allows you to take an instant overview of your position and quickly investigate any issues. Being an enterprise level system means that all the data is live and up to date whenever you view it - no waiting for overnight processes or manual summaries. It also means it is available to managers wherever they are, enabling them to be much more proactive and therefore better able to maintain or improve standards.

Many of the reports are available in graphical format. This approach makes complex reports easy to view and understand, which is good news for managers with busy schedules.

Data for reports can be pulled from different modules into the same report, for example, an occupancy report which also shows the number of staff required.

Choose the format...All the reports are available live in ConnectChildcare™ and can be easily printed. You can also export many of them to PDF, Excel or Sharepoint files for further working, or to send to colleagues.

More Control - instant performance overview and output monitoring

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On top againSeveral of our customers run user satisfaction surveys and the ConnectChildcare™ team regularly come out on top.

“Always call you back...”, “nothing is too much trouble...”

- these are typical comments made by the users, reflecting our commitment and quality of service.

Someone to watch over me

Whilst ConnectChildcare™ is incredibly easy to use, proper training is essential, and our Customer Support Team is geared to providing all the help, advice and training required for a smooth and efficient roll out. We can provide one to one training, group training or, for larger companies, train-the-trainer sessions.

This can be delivered on site, local hotels or one of our training centres. We also provide on-line training for remote locations or product updates. This involves one of our training team demonstrating the product on your own computer screen whilst talking to you on the phone. It has all the benefits of normal one-to-one training but without the travel and associated costs.

We know that you’ll find ConnectChildcare™ very user friendly, but problems pop up from time to time, which is why we deliver best in class support services

We’ll hold your handWe appreciate that staff are often intimidated by technology. With ConnectChildcare™ they needn’t worry - step by-step guidance and easy-to-use tutorials make the training process quite painless. But we’ll hold your hand until you’re ready to take the stabilisers off. We provide training as part of the package: face-to-face or online, one to-one or in groups.

Our customer support team looks after the whole process, from initial order to a full rollout, providing the help and support at each stage of the process. And it doesn’t stop there - each customer is assigned a personal trainer (usually the person who trained them) to help with the first few weeks and deal with any issues they may have - a friendly voice is just a phone call away!

Our technical support team is there to provide assistance with any aspect of using ConnectChildcare™ - not just technical issues. They have wide knowledge of the programmes, both in terms of how to use them and how they work. They can quickly diagnose a problem and get you up and running again in the shortest possible time.

Data conversionImplementing a new system usually provides a good opportunity to input new clean data. However, there are times when this is not practical or desirable and that’s when you can take advantage of our data conversion service. Whether it’s a database, spreadsheet or a word file, our engineers will try to import it for you.

Contact sales now on 0844 37 111 37 to see how easy it is to get connected

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Connect are committed to developing innovativeChildcare Management systems based on proven Microsoft technologies. All Childcare data is stored using a Microsoft® SQL Server 2008 database built on a Microsoft® .Net architecture.

We are committed to technology leadership. In recent years we have invested significant sums to develop our .NET platform across rich client (PC) and thin client (web) technologies. Put simply, .NET is the Microsoft platform of the future, designed to exploit the full advantages of the internet. Our ongoing .NET project will ensure that our clients’ investments will be “future proofed” whilst enabling them to exploit the benefits of .NET, namely lower cost (to deploy and maintain) and greater flexibility.

We believe in “Integration” over “Aggregation”. We are committed to a strategy of integrated IT solutions. The company has developed a comprehensive and fully integrated suite of enterprise applications coupled with a standardised approach to project development. Where relevant we have partnered with best-in-class providers to ensure our enterprise platforms delivers excellence across each module.

We utilise a multi-server system on our hosted solutions to spread the load and only have a few clients per server. Each company has its own separate site and database to ensure no cross contamination of data can occur.

Built on the latest technologies…Software + Services

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AdditionsClearly, our product won’t be right for everyone and that’s where our Additions program comes in.This allows our customers to amend the functionality of the system to suit their specific needs. Our development team will design, write and implement these bespoke additions following consultation and analysis of your processes or systems.

What’s more, if it’s something we can use with our other customers, we do it for free!

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As a company, we are always looking for ways to innovate. In fact our award winning solutions have been recognised at the very highest level in the industry and we regularly appear on the shortlist of most innovative companies operating in the UK Childcare sector.

The culture within the company is to look for ways of doing things better, challenging traditional methods and harnessing new technology. With ConnectChildcare™, you can be sure that you will always be at the forefront of modern technology, but within a safe and friendly environment.

Innovation - changing the faceof Childcare management

The Director’s House | Eanam Wharf | Blackburn | Lancashire | BB1 5BL

Telephone: 0844 37 111 37 | Email: info@connectchildcare.co.uk | www.connectchildcare.co.uk

technology group

Part of the

Call Connect on:

0844 37 111 37Or visit our website:www.connectchildcare.co.uk

…take a closer look at the modules,This brochure gives you an overview of the ConnectChildcare™ concept, but you’ll find a lot more on our website at www.connectchildcare.co.uk

Or book an on-line demonstration,An on-line demonstration allows you to not only see the features of the system but also to ask questions about how it can work in your particular situation.

Finally, don’t just take our word for it...Go to our website where you can view several case studies about our clients and how they use ConnectChildcare™.

After you’ve done all that, if you’re ready for the next step, our sales team will be happy to talk to you - with no obligation on your part, naturally.

We’ve given you an overview of how ConnectChildcare™ can transform your operation, and we hope that you’ll want to find out more and to see what’s in the small print! Well, the good news is that there are no nasty surprises - in fact, quite the opposite!

Please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to answer all your questions. But if you’d prefer to do some more research before you get in touch, you can always...

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