Why Kalendit Isn't a Staffing Agency (And Why That Matters)
Kalendit is a technology enabling platform connecting nurseries and educators seamlessly so that everyone wins.
How technology is finally giving nurseries and educators control over their own staffing
Let's be honest: if you're a nursery owner, staffing agencies have probably burned you before.
You've paid £25-35 per hour while the educator got minimum wage. You've watched agencies exploit your legal obligation to maintain ratios. You've felt trapped because when you're one educator short, you have no negotiating power.
Here's the truth: Kalendit is not a staffing agency.
The Traditional Agency Model Is Broken
Traditional agencies sit between you and the educator, controlling everything and extracting maximum value from both sides:
They pay educators minimum wage (£11.44-12/hour)
They charge you £25-35/hour (or more for emergencies)
They pocket the £13-23 difference—that's a 100-200% markup
You have no say in rates, no direct relationships, and no transparency
The educator gets minimum wage while you pay premium prices. Everyone loses except the agency.
Technology Changes Everything
Think about how you book things in 2025: Uber, Airbnb, Upwork—you see options, check reviews, agree on price, and connect directly.
Technology platforms have replaced expensive middlemen everywhere else. Why not in nursery staffing?
How Kalendit Actually Works
Kalendit is a technology platform that connects nurseries directly with qualified educators. No middleman. No markup. Just your technology partner providing the infrastructure.
You Control Everything
Set your own rates based on what's fair for your budget and the shift
Choose which educators to work with based on profiles and reviews
Build direct relationships with educators you like and book them repeatedly
See exactly what you're paying with transparent platform fees
Educators Control Their Work
See all shift details upfront—rate, time, location, requirements
Choose which shifts to accept based on their preferences and schedule
Keep most of what you pay—often earning 50-100% more than agency minimum wages
Build relationships with nurseries they enjoy working with
We Provide the Infrastructure
We're your technology partner—like Airbnb for nursery staffing, but with the human expertise early years demands:
✓ 30-minute interviews with trained team members before educators join
✓ In-app assessments on safeguarding and best practices
✓ Automated DBS checks and qualification verification
✓ Expiry tracking so credentials never lapse
✓ Smart matching technology that surfaces the right educators
✓ Secure payment processing
✓ Review systems for peer accountability
✓ Real support from our team when you need it
Technology scales quality, humans ensure it.
What We Actually Charge
Traditional agencies won't tell you their markup. We believe in radical transparency.
You set the hourly rate. For a qualified Level 3 educator in London, nurseries typically offer around £16/hour.
Our fees: 21.5% for nurseries, 3% for educators.
Real example when you set £16/hour:
You pay: £19.44/hour (£174.96 for a 9-hour shift)
Educator receives: £15.52/hour (£139.68 for 9 hours)
Our transparent £3.44/hour covers all technology and verification
Agency comparison for the same shift:
You pay: £30/hour (£270 for 9 hours) — no choice in rate
Educator gets: £11.44/hour (£102.96 for 9 hours) — minimum wage
Agency pockets: £18.56/hour (£167.04 for 9 hours) — 162% markup
With Kalendit, you save £95.04 per shift while the educator earns £36.72 more. Everyone wins.
Who Ensures Quality?
We do—combining human expertise with smart technology.
This is where Kalendit differs from pure tech platforms. We're your technology partner, not a faceless algorithm.
Human Verification
30-minute interview with fully trained team members
Face-to-face assessment of professionalism, communication, and cultural fit
Reference and employment history checks
Real humans making real judgments about who joins
Technology-Enhanced Checks
In-app assessments on nursery practices and safeguarding
Automated credential verification with continuous monitoring
Expiry tracking for DBS, First Aid, qualifications (you never chase renewals)
Public reviews from other nurseries
Attendance tracking with poor show-up rates flagged
Response time data showing reliability
This is more rigorous than agency checks, where a coordinator makes a phone call. We use technology to scale human judgment, not replace it.
The accountability is transparent: On Kalendit, every educator's profile shows every review, every metric. Other nurseries see exactly what you experienced. The accountability is public, permanent, and peer-to-peer.
The Benefits
For Nurseries
Lower costs without 100-200% agency markups
Better continuity when you book educators you trust repeatedly
More control over rates based on urgency and your budget
Faster fills with real-time matching
For Educators
Fair pay—50-100% more than agency minimum wages
Choice and autonomy over when, where, and what rate they work
Professional respect as decision-makers, not temps
For Children
Familiar, fairly-compensated educators provide better care
More people stay in early years when they can earn decently
Try It Yourself
Post one shift. Set your own rate. See how quickly shifts get filled. Review educators’ profiles with real credentials and reviews.
After one shift, you'll understand: this isn't an agency with an app. This is technology that puts you back in control.
Ready to Take Control?
Join UK nurseries who've moved from expensive agencies to direct connections.
[Create Free Account] • [See How It Works] •
Kalendit: Your technology partner for nursery staffing—human expertise scaled by smart systems.
Questions? sales@kalendit.com •
Have you ditched staffing agencies? Share your experience in the comments.