A CCMS, or childcare management system, can be used in a variety of ways within a variety of programs. When we hear CCMS, we immediately think of software for childcare centers. However, non-traditional centers and programs can benefit from CCMS as well. Whether you run an after school program, a school-age kid program or even an enterprise-sized childcare business, CCMS can work for you.
A CCMS works to automate your program, saving you time and increasing efficiency. With features like automatic billing and invoicing, classroom management, parent engagement and more, you can automate your center and cater your software to your specific needs. There’s a wide range of softwares available that can help you grow your business. In this post, we’ll share different use cases for childcare management softwares, which features are most relevant, and how to find the software right for you.
Who can use childcare management software?
Childcare management software has a variety of use cases both within and outside of the childcare industry. Below are different use cases for childcare management software along with the features those programs should look for.
Daycare, Preschool, Nursery School, Childcare Center
These are the programs you will commonly see use childcare management software. This software is ideal for these programs because each feature is built with them in mind. CCMS can help these centers grow their business and increase efficiency all while being mindful of licensing requirements and regulations within the industry. If you own or operate a childcare center and haven’t invested in a CCMS, check out this article highlighting how software can help you overcome common challenges that occur when working in childcare.
As a childcare provider, here are some of the most important features to look for when finding a CCMS for your center:
- Automatic billing and invoicing
- Parent communication and engagement
- Classroom management
- Attendance and ratio management
- Contactless check-in and check-out
For more information on the top features to look for when selecting a CCMS, read this article from Kangarootime.
Enterprise Centers
If you own multiple childcare centers, your software needs will be different than a traditional single-center business. You will need features that allow you to manage information across multiple centers. A CCMS is crucial for enterprise centers as it allows you to better manage your business.
Enterprise centers should look for the following features when selecting a CCMS:
- Automatic billing and invoicing
- Parent communication and engagement
- Classroom management
- Subsidy billing (if your centers accept subsidy payments)
- Staff scheduling across multiple centers
- Financial reporting and forecasting
- Responsive customer support and thorough training and onboarding
After School Programs
After school programs can greatly benefit from a CCMS. Software can help automate various processes and also store important child information. As an after school program, the following features will most benefit your service:
- Automatic billing and invoicing
- Parent communication
- Check-in and check-out
- Child profiles
- Document manager
School-age Children Programs
If your program caters to school-age children, your software needs will be different than a traditional childcare center. For your program, it’s most important to automate your billing, be able to communicate with parents, take attendance, and store important information. School-age programs should look for the following features when selecting a CCMS:
- Automatic billing and invoicing
- Parent communication
- Attendance tracking
- Check-in and check-out
- Child profiles
- Document manager
University and College Childcare Centers
Centers within colleges and universities provide great value to both students and faculty members. These centers are similar to traditional childcare centers but have different requirements and regulations set by the universities. These centers may require specific features and capabilities from their CCMS. Most commonly, these centers need the following features:
- Automatic billing and invoicing
- Parent communication
- Attendance tracking
- Contactless check-in and check-out
- Document management
- Payroll management
- Health checks and screenings
- Immunization and allergy tracking
To learn more about software equipped for centers at universities and colleges, check out this article.
Selecting the CCMS Right for Your Center
Selecting your CCMS can be an extensive and detailed process. To help you out, Kangarootime has created guides to choosing your CCMS. Check out the following articles to find the CCMS right for your program:
How to Select Your Childcare Management Software
Top 5 Questions to Ask on a Childcare Software Demo
Assessing Your Needs When Selecting a Childcare Software
Top 5 Features to Look for When Selecting a Childcare Management Software
5 Steps to Finding the Childcare Management Software Right for Your Center
Top 5 Considerations for Childcare Management Software
Kangarootime is the leading all-in-one childcare management software for daycares and preschools. With billing and invoicing capabilities, parent communication and staff management tools and classroom automation, Kangarootime helps childcare centers grow and scale. To learn more about optimizing your center with Kangarootime, visit kangarootime.com
