At Impact Early Years™, we’ve spent countless hours knee-deep in audits, registers, rotas and policies (and that’s just a Tuesday). What we’ve found, time and time again, is that accuracy in early years settings isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about protecting people, preventing mistakes, and keeping settings running smoothly.

Let’s be honest: the admin mountain is real. But when it comes to compliance, operations, safeguarding, and staffing, getting it wrong isn’t just inconvenient – it’s potentially dangerous.

Compliance: Not Just a Paper Exercise

Ofsted might not live under your bed, but it can feel like they’re lurking just out of sight when your paperwork isn’t up to scratch. We’ve seen too many settings scrambling the night before an inspection because no one can find the latest fire drill log or the most recent DBS number. Sound familiar?

Our platform is built to prevent those panics. We found that when compliance systems are digital, centralised and regularly reviewed, inspection readiness becomes less about stress and more about confidence.

Impact Insight: Inaccurate records were one of the top reasons settings were marked down in inspection reports. It wasn’t that procedures weren’t followed — they just weren’t evidenced properly.

Operations: Clarity Beats Chaos

From medication logs to cleaning schedules, the operational side of early years can feel like running a hotel, hospital and catering company all in one go (while being expected to sing “Wind the Bobbin Up” with enthusiasm).

What our analysis shows is that where operations are streamlined and roles are clearly defined, there’s a direct knock-on effect on staff wellbeing and children’s experiences.

Impact Insight: Confusion over responsibilities often leads to duplication or gaps. We saw one setting with three people checking fridge temperatures and nobody locking the front door at close!

Safeguarding: Accuracy Saves Lives

This is the big one. Safeguarding depends on timely, accurate information. One missed detail in a chronology or one outdated contact number in an emergency plan can have serious consequences.

Through our safeguarding audits, we’ve found that many settings have the right intent, but their systems let them down. Post-it notes and memory are not safeguarding strategies. Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely.

Impact Insight: 82% of safeguarding concerns we reviewed could have been acted on earlier if information had been logged more clearly and consistently.

Staffing: The Right Person, in the Right Place, at the Right Time

Staffing is not just about ratios – it’s about capability, suitability, and continuity. But we found that most settings are juggling spreadsheets, WhatsApp groups, and scribbled notes in the staffroom to manage cover.

This not only leads to errors (and last-minute panics), but also impacts team morale. When people feel overused, overlooked or under-informed, they don’t give their best.

Impact Insight: Settings using automated staffing tools reduced rota errors by 47% – and reported happier teams to boot.

So Why Does Accuracy Matter?

Because children deserve it. Because your team deserve it. Because you deserve to sleep at night without wondering if you locked the medicine cupboard or emailed that risk assessment.

At Impact Early Years™, our platform has been built by people who’ve worked in the sector, led inspections, and walked the compliance tightrope. We know what matters — and we’ve made it easier to get it right.

If you’re ready to take the guesswork out of governance, and put accuracy at the heart of your practice, we’d love to show you how.

Written by Vanessa Dooley, Founder of Jigsaw Early Years Consultancy