Don't Let Staffing Costs Control Your Finances
Stop reacting to staffing crises. Start managing them strategically.
The uncomfortable truth: Staffing is your nursery's single biggest expense. It's also the one most capable of completely obliterating your carefully planned budget.
The culprit? Opaque premium agency fees that exploit staffing emergencies in a highly regulated sector where you have no room to maneuver.
The 6:30 AM Nightmare
You know this scenario because you've lived it dozens of times:
It's 6:30 AM. Your phone rings. One of your core Level 3 practitioners calls in sick. Ratios will be breached. Children arrive in 90 minutes.
Out of panic, you call the first agency whose number you can find. You don't dare ask about rates—you just need someone qualified to walk through your door before 8:00 AM.
Crisis averted. Then, weeks later, the invoice arrives: an astronomical figure you don't fully understand, filled with markups and "emergency premiums" you never agreed to.
Let's be clear: This is NOT your fault. You were left with no alternative.
But what if there was another way?
Taking Back Control with Kalendit
You Set the Hourly Rate
For every single booking—including emergencies—you decide what you'll pay. Choose rates starting at minimum wage or offer competitive rates to attract the best educators.
No more surprise invoices. The rate you set is the rate you pay.
Fixed Rate Structures for Multi-Site Groups
Managing multiple nurseries? Create standardised rate structures across your entire group:
By Qualification:
Level 2: £15/hour
Level 3: £17/hour
QTS/EYTS: £22/hour
Emergency Rates by Qualification:
Level 2 Emergency: £17/hour
Level 3 Emergency: £19/hour
QTS/EYTS Emergency: £24/hour
Why this matters:
✅ Predictable costs - Know exactly what each booking costs
✅ Faster decisions - No time wasted during emergencies
✅ Budget certainty - Accurate forecasting for CFOs
✅ Regular reviews - Rates updated to stay competitive with inflation
Transparent Platform Fees
Unlike traditional agencies with 30-50% hidden markups:
23% platform fee for standard bookings
20% platform fee for regular users
No hidden charges. No surprise supplements. What you see is what you pay.
Beyond Pricing: Intelligence That Prevents Overspend
Real-Time Budget Controls
Spending caps for each location
Overspending alerts before it's too late
Analytics showing which sites, days, or rooms cost most
Data-driven decisions replace panic and guesswork.
Real Story: The Chiswick Problem
A CEO of a 20+ nursery chain called us: "Chiswick is blowing up our budget every month. Can you help us understand what's happening there?"
We provided access to Kalendit's Command Centre—our multi-site dashboard.
The problem: Chiswick had 3x more emergency bookings than comparable sites, driving costs through the roof.
The solution:
Fixed rate structure eliminated confusion
Dashboard visibility for each site
Real-time spending alerts
Encouraged advance planning over emergency requests
The result: The following month, Chiswick was back on budget. Emergency bookings dropped. The CEO was stress-free.
What This Means for Your Bottom Line
Traditional Agency Approach:
Emergency rate: £32/hour (with hidden markups)
8.5-hour shift = £272
Monthly emergency cover (8 shifts) = £2,176
Annual cost: £26,112
Kalendit Approach:
Fixed emergency rate: £17/hour
Platform fee 23% = £3.91/hour
Total: £20.91/hour
8.5-hour shift = £177.74
Monthly emergency cover (8 shifts) = £1,422
Annual cost: £17,064
Annual savings: £9,048 on emergency cover alone, per site.
Plus: When you have visibility and control, many nurseries reduce emergency bookings by 40-60% within three months. That's when savings become transformational.
The Difference
Traditional agencies profit from your crises. Kalendit succeeds when you're in control.
Plan ahead? Lower rates and better availability
Set fixed rates? Zero hesitation during emergencies
Understand patterns? Optimise and reduce waste
Set limits? Stay within budget even during crises
Take Control Today
With Kalendit, you get:
✅ Transparent pricing you control
✅ Fixed rate structures for consistency
✅ Clear platform fees—no hidden charges
✅ Spending caps and real-time alerts
✅ Data-driven insights to optimise strategy
Stop reacting to staffing crises. Start managing them strategically.
Your budget. Your rates. Your control.
Ready to take control of your staffing budget?
Get Started with Kalendit | Contact
Join hundreds of UK nurseries that have eliminated budget surprises and regained control of their single largest cost.