School self-validation
We strongly recommend that you attend one of our self-validation workshops before you self-validate (see the training pages for future dates) and that you make use of our support as you prepare for self-validation.
Self-validation underlines the importance of the whole school approach by asking representatives from the whole school community to sign the self-validation form.
Our experience of school self-validation tells us that you will find the process most effective if you:
- Complete the online audit tool and the evidence sections (brief notes / bullet points only) in the national database. The audit tool serves as a supporting framework for your self-validation and will also be invaluable when you transfer to the Annual Review and the Healthy Schools enhancement model.
- Plan to identify and track a range of outcomes from the outset of your Healthy Schools work as well as looking for unexpected and opportunistic outcomes.
- Make use of our Why we think we are Healthy School form to gather a snapshot of views from the whole school community confirming that you really do have a whole school approach to Healthy Schools and your school community is engaged and involved. (We particularly suggest you use this before you gather the signatures needed on the self-validation form for formal submission.)
- Involve your support worker as you prepare to self-validate. (Not sure who your school support worker is? Contact us, putting "I'd like help from a school support worker" as the subject of your message.) We can help you with your audit and check it, help you to formulate your outcomes and visit you before you self-validate to celebrate your achievements with you.
You don't have to do any of this! Self-validation is about a light-touch approach, but we feel that these four things will enhance your validation and reduce your workload by making a clear record of your work for you to use in the future.