Malpractice Policy

At Early Years Expertise, we are fully committed to upholding the integrity and credibility of our assessment processes and certifications. This policy outlines our procedures for identifying, investigating, and responding to any form of malpractice that may compromise the quality, fairness, or validity of our programs.

Definition of Malpractice

Malpractice refers to any activity or behavior that deliberately contravenes our regulations and may compromise:

  • The integrity of the assessment process

  • The validity and reliability of learner results

  • The credibility of certification or qualifications issued

  • The reputation and compliance of Early Years Expertise as an accredited provider

Examples of malpractice include, but are not limited to:

  • Fraudulent claims of achievement or identity

  • Tampering with or falsifying assessment evidence or records

  • Facilitating or encouraging dishonest practices by learners or staff

  • Intentionally misleading representation of credentials or qualifications

Policy Scope

This policy applies to:

  • Learners enrolled in any of our certification programs

  • Staff, facilitators, assessors, or external contributors

  • Partner agencies or organizations representing learners

  • Any individual or entity involved in the delivery or assessment of our courses

Reporting Suspected Malpractice

Any concerns or suspicions of malpractice should be reported immediately to our Quality Assurance team via earlyyearsexpertise1@gmail.com. Reports can be submitted by staff, learners, or third parties and will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Investigation Procedure

Upon receiving a malpractice report, we will:

  1. Acknowledge the report within 5 working days

  2. Initiate an internal investigation, led by a designated senior team member not involved in the incident

  3. Collect and review all relevant evidence from the involved parties

  4. Interview those involved, if necessary

  5. Make a formal decision based on the evidence collected

  6. Inform all relevant parties of the outcome in writing within 20 working days

Where necessary, we may withhold certification or suspend access to course materials during the investigation.

Outcomes and Sanctions

If malpractice is confirmed, actions may include:

  • Nullification of assessment results

  • Suspension or termination of course access

  • Withdrawal of certification

  • Notification to relevant accrediting or regulatory bodies

  • Internal disciplinary procedures (for staff or facilitators)

Appeals

Any party involved has the right to appeal the outcome of a malpractice investigation through our Appeals Policy within 10 working days of the decision being issued.

Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually to ensure compliance with accrediting body regulations and evolving best practices in assessment and quality assurance.

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

At Early Years Expertise, we are committed to providing equal access to learning and assessment opportunities for all learners. This policy outlines our approach to making reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or additional learning needs, to ensure they are not unfairly disadvantaged during their training or assessment when working toward CPD certification.

Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and relevant accreditation standards

  • Promote inclusivity and fairness across all our programs

  • Support learners who experience barriers due to physical, sensory, cognitive, mental health, or long-term medical conditions

  • Ensure that any adjustments made do not compromise the integrity or validity of the assessment process

What is a Reasonable Adjustment?

A reasonable adjustment is any change made to a training or assessment environment to support a learner with additional needs. Adjustments are intended to remove or reduce disadvantage while maintaining the fairness and credibility of the qualification.

Examples may include:

  • Extra time in assessments

Requesting a Reasonable Adjustment

Learners or their representatives are encouraged to notify us of any additional support needs as early as possible, ideally at the time of enrollment or before starting a course. Requests can be made by:

  • Emailing: earlyyearsexpertise1@gmail.com

  • Including any relevant documentation (e.g., medical letter, educational psychologist report, EHCP)

Our team will review the request in confidence and may contact the learner for additional information or to explore the most appropriate support strategies.

Decision and Implementation

  • All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the need, course requirements, and any regulatory guidance

  • Adjustments will be implemented promptly and monitored to ensure they are effective

  • In cases where adjustments cannot be made (e.g., if they fundamentally alter the assessment criteria), we will work with the learner to explore alternative solutions

Appeals

If a learner disagrees with the outcome of a reasonable adjustment request, they may appeal through our Appeals Policywithin 10 working days of receiving the decision.

Confidentiality

All information related to a learner’s disability, health condition, or support needs will be handled with sensitivity and in accordance with our Data Protection Policy.

Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated to reflect changes in legislation, best practice, and learner feedback.