TIQPlus Review · Department · Compliance
Compliance
Inspection-grade evidence, ESFA funding rules, ILR returns, IQA sampling and the audit trail Ofsted and the funding agency actually look for.
Writing Progress Reviews That Hold Up Under Ofsted Scrutiny
Most progress reviews fail when an inspector reads them — not because the apprentice isn't progressing, but because the review reads as pastoral notes instead of evidence. Here's the four-part framework Ofsted actually wants to see, with examples of what counts and what gets flagged.
Ofqual and AI in Assessment: What Training Providers and Learners Need to Know
Ofqual has set expectations for how awarding organisations must manage AI integrity risk in regulated qualifications. This guide explains Ofqual’s position, the implications for EPA in apprenticeships, the specific challenge of AI-generated portfolio evidence, and the practical steps training providers must take to maintain assessment validity.
Compliance training in the UK: obligations, records, and best practice
A complete guide to compliance training in the UK: legal obligations, the EU AI Act Article 4 requirement, attestation records, and how to build an audit-ready compliance training programme.
Responsible AI Training for Employees: A UK Employer Guide
Deploying AI without training employees on responsible use is a governance risk, not just an L&D gap. This guide explains what responsible AI training covers, how it differs from AI literacy and AI awareness programmes, and how UK employers can build a programme that addresses the ethics, bias, and oversight obligations that regulators and clients increasingly expect.
EU AI Act Article 4: AI Literacy Training Obligations for UK Employers
Article 4 of the EU AI Act, which came into force in February 2025, imposes mandatory AI literacy obligations on organisations that deploy or use AI systems. UK businesses supplying into the EU are directly in scope. This guide explains what the obligation requires in practice, what counts as compliant training, and how to build a programme that holds up under scrutiny.
Ofsted Monitoring Visit: What to Expect and How to Prepare
An Ofsted monitoring visit is not a full re-inspection — but it is not routine either. It is a targeted assessment of whether a provider has made sufficient progress against specific areas for improvement since their last grade. This guide explains what triggers a monitoring visit, what inspectors focus on, and how to prepare your evidence.
Maths and English Requirements in Apprenticeships: 2025/26 Policy Changes Explained
Maths and English requirements have been part of apprenticeship policy for over a decade — but the rules governing who must achieve functional skills, who must only work towards them, and what counts as evidence continue to evolve. The 2025/26 ESFA funding rules introduced changes that affect which learners are subject to which obligation. This guide explains the current position, who it affects, what providers must evidence, and how to avoid the most common compliance failures.
Recognition of prior learning in apprenticeships: a provider guide
How RPL works in apprenticeships — what counts as prior learning, how it affects programme duration and OTJ hours, how to document it, and common compliance mistakes.
ILR outcome and withdrawal codes: a reference guide for training providers
All ILR completion status, outcome, and withdrawal reason codes explained for UK apprenticeship providers — when to use each code and common errors to avoid.
Functional skills requirements for apprenticeships: a compliance guide
Functional skills requirements for UK apprenticeships explained: Level 2 maths and English rules, exemptions, EPA gateway implications, and how to track compliance across a cohort.
ESFA / ILR reporting update tracker (2026)
Use this page as a monthly checkpoint for reporting teams. It focuses on practical reporting controls, validation routines, and operational actions to maintain confidence in compliance outputs.
Breaks in learning for apprenticeships: compliance guide for training providers
Breaks in learning rules for UK apprenticeships: when they apply, how to notify ESFA, the impact on OTJ hours and ILR records, and how to manage returns without compliance errors.
Apprenticeship Subcontracting Rules: What Training Providers Need to Know
Subcontracting is a legitimate and common model in apprenticeship delivery — but it carries significant compliance obligations that many prime providers underestimate. The ESFA holds the prime provider responsible for everything that happens in a subcontracted arrangement: the quality of delivery, the accuracy of data, the fees charged, and the learner outcomes. Getting subcontracting wrong is not a paperwork failure — it is a funding breach that can result in clawback, contract suspension, and regulatory action. This guide covers the ESFA rules, due diligence requirements, contract obligations, the management fee cap, and what Ofsted looks for.
How to Prepare for an Ofsted Inspection: A Training Provider Checklist
Ofsted can give as little as 2 working days' notice — and in some cases arrive unannounced. This checklist covers everything a training provider needs before, during, and after an EIF inspection, including the learner file deep dive inspectors care about most.