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Importing Data

Ready to break up with your old nursery software? We make it a breeze! Our friendly tools help you migrate from ANY system - just point, click, and let us handle the heavy lifting.

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Import Methods

We offer two powerful ways to import your data into Pigeonhole: Access the import page from your Pigeonhole dashboard at Settings > Import/Export. Features:
  • AI-Powered Column Mapping: Upload any CSV file and our AI automatically maps columns to the correct fields
  • Built-in Editor: Review and edit all extracted data before importing
  • Duplicate Detection: Automatically flags potential duplicates with ⚠️ warning icons
  • Bulk Import: Import hundreds of records in one go
  • Support for Any Format: Works with CSV exports from any nursery software

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2. Chrome Extension Import (Great for Individual Records)

The Pigeonhole Chrome Extension allows you to import data directly from your current nursery software provider’s website - no CSV required! Installation:
  1. Install the Pigeonhole Chrome Extension from the Chrome Web Store
  2. Click the extension icon and log in with your Pigeonhole credentials
  3. Select your nursery from the dropdown (if you manage multiple sites)

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Web-Based CSV Import Guide

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How to Import via CSV

  1. Navigate to Settings > Import/Export in Pigeonhole
  2. Choose the tab for what you want to import (Children, Parents/Carers, Staff, or Funding Forms)
  3. Upload your CSV file by clicking or dragging and dropping into the upload area (see Getting Data From Nursery Providers)
  4. Wait for AI processing - Our AI will automatically extract and map your data columns
  5. Review in the built-in editor:
    • Check extracted information
    • Edit any fields as needed
    • Remove rows you don’t want to import
    • Pay attention to ⚠️ warning icons that indicate potential duplicates
  6. Click “Import” to add the records to Pigeonhole
Importing Funding Forms? Check out our dedicated Funding Forms Import Guide for specific instructions on live register and CSV imports.
Review Imported Data

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Tips for Best CSV Results

  • Include column headers in the first row of your CSV
  • Ensure data is consistently formatted
  • Remove any unnecessary columns before uploading
  • Our AI recognizes column name variations (e.g., “First Name”, “firstname”, “first_name” all work!)
  • Test with a small batch first (5-10 records) before importing everything
Review Imported Data

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Getting Data from Other Nursery Providers

Below are instructions for exporting data from common nursery software providers. Once you have your CSV export, use the Web-Based CSV Import method above.
Note: Export functionality varies by provider. If you cannot find export options, contact your provider’s support team directly.
  1. Log in to your Baby’s Days account
  2. Navigate to the Reports section
  3. Look for Data Export or CSV Export options
  4. Select the data type (Children, Parents, Staff) and all available fields
  5. Download the CSV file
Contact Baby’s Days support if export options aren’t visible.
  1. Access your Blossom admin panel
  2. Go to Settings or Data Management
  3. Look for Export Data functionality
  4. Select the record type to export and download as CSV
Blossom may require admin permissions to access export features.
  1. Log in to Connect Childcare
  2. Navigate to Reports or Admin section
  3. Find Data Export or Export to Excel/CSV
  4. Select the data you need and export
  1. Open Instant Nursery Manager
  2. Go to Admin Tools or Reports
  3. Look for Export functionality
  4. Choose CSV or Excel format and generate the export
  1. Log in to your Kinderly account
  2. Navigate to Settings > Data Export
  3. Select the type of data and CSV format
  4. Download your export
  1. Access Kindersoft admin area
  2. Go to Reports or Data Management
  3. Find Export or Download Data option
  4. Select CSV format and download
  1. Log in to My Nursery Pal
  2. Navigate to Settings or Admin
  3. Look for Export Data or Data Download
  4. Select CSV format and download
  1. Access your Nursery Genie account
  2. Go to Admin section
  3. Find Export or Backup Data options
  4. Select CSV format and download
  1. Log in to Nursery in a Box
  2. Navigate to Settings > Export
  3. Select the data category and CSV format
  4. Download your data
  1. Log in to your Parenta account
  2. Go to Reports or Admin Panel
  3. Look for Data Export or Export to CSV
  4. Select what you want to export and choose all fields
  5. Download the CSV file
  1. Access your iConnect/Red Fish account
  2. Navigate to Settings or Reports
  3. Find Export Data functionality
  4. Select CSV format and download
  1. Log in to your Tapestry account
  2. Go to Settings > Data Management
  3. Look for Export or Download Data
  4. Select CSV format and download the file
  1. Log in to your Famly account
  2. Navigate to Settings > Data Export
  3. Select the type of data to export and CSV format
  4. Download your export file (Ensure you select “All Fields” for best results.)
For best results, import your data in this order:
  1. Children First - Required before importing relatives or staff, as other records reference children
  2. Parents/Carers Second - Relatives are linked to children and must be imported after children are in the system
  3. Staff Last - Staff can be linked to children, so should be imported after children exist
Following this order ensures all relationships are preserved and automatic matching (like parent-to-child linking) works correctly.

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Chrome Extension Import Guide

The extension provides import functionality via two tabs:
  • 👶 Import Children - Import child records from provider pages
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Import Parents/Carers - Import parent and carer records

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Importing Children via Extension

How It Works:
  1. Navigate to a child’s detail page in your current nursery software
  2. Highlight the content you want to import (name, DOB, address, etc.)
  3. Open the Pigeonhole extension and click the ”👶 Import Children” tab
  4. Click “Import Child from Current Page”
  5. The AI extracts information from the highlighted content
  6. Review and edit the extracted data
  7. Save to add the child to Pigeonhole Review Imported Data
💡 Tip: Make sure you’re on a page displaying a child’s details and highlight all relevant information before clicking import. The AI works best with structured data like tables, forms, and labeled fields.
You can now navigate to another childs page and import that data next.

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Importing Parents/Carers via Extension

How It Works:
  1. Navigate to a parent/carer detail page or list page in your current software
  2. Highlight the content you want to import (names, emails, phone numbers, relationships) to get a better result from the AI import.
  3. Open the Pigeonhole extension and click the ”👨‍👩‍👧 Import Parents/Carers” tab
  4. Click “Import Parent from Current Page”
  5. The AI extracts parent/carer information and attempts to match them to children
  6. Review each adult record, check or change the linked child, then save
💡 Tip: Works with both individual parent pages and list views. The AI automatically attempts to match adults to children based on surnames, but you can manually adjust child assignments before saving.
Review Imported Data

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Funding Forms Import

Looking to import just funding forms? We have a dedicated guide for that! Import Methods: 📚 View the complete Funding Forms Import Guide This guide covers:
  • How to download data from your council’s live register
  • Where to get the CSV template for custom imports
  • Step-by-step import instructions for both methods
  • What to do after importing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most nursery software systems have some form of data export functionality. Check your provider’s Settings, Admin, or Reports sections. If you can’t find export options:
  • Check their help documentation
  • Contact your provider’s support team directly
  • Try using the Chrome Extension to import directly from their web pages
  • As a last resort, you can manually create a CSV file with your data
Once you have a CSV file, our AI can handle almost any format!
When you see a ⚠️ warning icon during review:
  1. Check if it’s truly a duplicate by reviewing the existing record in Pigeonhole
  2. If it’s a genuine duplicate, remove it from the import
  3. If it’s a different person with a similar name, proceed with the import
The warning is there to help prevent accidental duplicate entries, but you have full control over the final decision.
Yes! You can:
  • Import children first
  • Then import parents (they’ll automatically link to children)
  • Finally import staff
  • Or import small batches to test before doing the full import
This staged approach helps ensure all relationships are properly linked.
Any columns in your CSV that aren’t mapped to Pigeonhole fields will simply be ignored. Your original CSV file is never modified, so you can always go back and import additional data later.
Yes! Our AI recognizes variations like:
  • “First Name”, “firstname”, “first_name”, “Forename”
  • “DOB”, “Date of Birth”, “Birth Date”, “DateOfBirth”
  • “Email”, “Email Address”, “E-mail”
The AI handles intelligent column mapping automatically.
  • CSV Upload & AI Processing: 5-30 seconds depending on file size
  • Extension Import: Extraction is nearly instant
  • Saving Records: Bulk imports process immediately
Most imports complete within seconds.
Currently, imports cannot be automatically undone. We recommend:
  • Testing with a small batch first (5-10 records)
  • Reviewing all data carefully in the editor before importing
  • Using the duplicate detection warnings to avoid mistakes
Following these steps helps ensure accurate imports.
Yes:
  • All data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections
  • AI processing happens securely on our servers
  • No data is stored permanently during the extraction process
  • Only you can access your imported records
Your data is protected at every step.
If your software doesn’t offer CSV export:
  1. Try using the Chrome Extension to import directly from their web pages
  2. Check if they offer Excel export (you can convert .xlsx to .csv in Excel/Google Sheets)
  3. Contact their support to request a data export
  4. Create a CSV file manually using a spreadsheet program
There’s always a way to get your data into Pigeonhole!

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Need Help?

If you encounter any issues during import, please reach out to us at support@pigeonholeapp.co.uk.
Our support team can help with:
  • Provider-specific export questions
  • CSV formatting issues
  • Data mapping problems
  • Import errors or validation issues
  • Custom migration assistance for large datasets