The INDEX is designed to offer schools maximum flexibility in its use. It is anticipated that schools will adapt the format for their own purposes in order to truly make the INDEX their own in keeping with their own values and aspirations.

Each of the Five Areas of Work is presented in a common format as follows:

• the title of the area of work being dealt with;

• a brief definition of the scope of the area of work, including its relationship with Every Child Matters agenda ;

• a set of indicators which demonstrate success in the area of work, expressed as Emerging, Established and Advanced criteria and which enables data to be assembled for future comparative purposes.

- Emerging - very early stages of development
- Established – embedded in the everyday practices of the school;
- Advanced - very good in comparison with most schools.

The Audit Tool is essentially a strategy to enable schools to profile their existing provision and achievements across any or all of the areas of work. It is intended as a quick process to help you identify gaps in provision, stimulate further action and identify sources of evidence or ways in which these achievements can be demonstrated.

Additionally, the Audit Tool can provide a reporting mechanism which identifies next steps as a starting point for future planning. The report can be downloaded as a Word document and can then be edited to meet your individual school's needs.

The INDEX helps to take the debate about successful and effective schools beyond league tables, enabling each school to be recognised and applauded for its own worth. The INDEX will continue to grow and develop as schools and Local Authority services contribute to it and enhance the reservoir of effective practice that it represents.

The next section indicates some of the diverse ways in which schools may be able to demonstrate their achievements against any one of the Five Areas of Work. Schools will wish to add to this schema and adapt it for their own purposes.

The three sets of criteria could be seen as progressive but there is no expectation that a school would work through them sequentially. The important point is for schools use the INDEX in the way that best suits their own purposes.