Children’s nurseries were early adopters of biometric access control, since the technology allowed staff and parents easy access to the nursery, while preventing unauthorised access. Today, some children’s nurseries are finding a new use for biometrics; the need to ensure the correct mix of staff, with the correct skills are on duty at all times.
UK Time Solutions has developed software to ensure nursery managers can check staff levels at a glance, and warn if the right mix is not in place to ensure good carer-to-child ratios. The system can be installed at multi-site operations with data fed back in real time to head office. One of the first nursery groups to install the system was The Nurserytime Group, a family run group of three nurseries at Willington, County Durham, South Shields and Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. Three biometric time and attendance systems were installed feeding data back to head office.
In addition to monitoring staff levels, the system can link to payroll to automatically calculate wages for staff on different hourly rates.
Nurserytime Group Manager Sarah Hall says: “Until now, maintaining the correct level of staff and skills at our three sites was a manual task, dedicated to the individual nursery manager. Now both managers and head office can monitor staff levels at a glance, at any time. The advantage of payroll calculation is cost benefit, which we can reflect in fees to parents. The biometric system is easy to use and efficient, meaning my staff can focus their attention on caring for our children and helping them meet their Early Learning goals.”
UK Time Solutions managing director Chris Routledge says: “Nurseries are constantly looking for ways to ensure the very best facilities for the children in their care, and biometrics has once again provided a reliable solution to a challenge – that of ensuring the right carers are in place at all times. This is comforting to management, staff and most important, parents.”
