Code of Ethics

CREC's Code of Ethics, which guides all its research, evaluation and consultancy, is  guided by CREC’s values. We passionately believe in:

• Distributed power and democratic processes​

• Social justice and equity​

• Holistic child development​

• Inclusive and affirmative practices​

• Human (and child) rights-based practices​

• Ethical and sustainable practices

These values underpin the following set of principles to ensure all actions should:

• Be done with, not to, participants;

• Be open and honest, and secure informed consent and ongoing assent;

• Be collaborative and inclusive;

• Be empowering and developmental;

• Have utility;

• Be respectful;

• Protect all participants from harm;

• Maintain anonymity;

• Provide feedback.
  

We set high standards of professional integrity and rigour within our research and evaluation ensuring that participatory methods support multiple perspectives within the research process; we aim to balance traditional hierarchies and favour co-production.

We only seek the gather the data we need, we maintain Data Protection protocols and we use the data we gather only for explicit purposes. Our privacy policy can be accessed here. Clear information will be provided to all participants disclosing all aspects of the research including data storage, potential use of third-party platforms (including AI) and feedback loops.

CREC’s ethical stance is aligned to that of the European Early Childhood Education Research Association and CREC’s directors supported an international group in the development of these protocols.

Any queries regarding CREC’s Code of Ethics can be directed to enquiries@crec.co.uk.

Employees of CREC are required to follow the Code of Ethics within their research, evaluation and consultancy work and all employees are expressly required not to make defamatory statements and not to infringe or authorise any infringement of copyright or any other legal rights.

Last updated: Jan 2026