THE BRISTOL STANDARD
About The Bristol Standard
The Bristol Standard is recognised nationally as an outstanding self-evaluation framework and the benefits and impact of its approach have been well evidenced. Through team reflection and discussion, the strengths of the setting are celebrated and future priorities become clear. The Bristol Standard enables practitioners to talk more knowledgeably about what they do, why they do it and the difference it is making for children and families in their care. Settings who engage with the process are more likely to be judged as good or better.

The Bristol Standard Purposes
These purposes have been mapped to the 12 Quality Improvement Principles developed by the National Quality Improvement Network.The purpose of the Bristol Standard is to:
- Establish a clear understanding of vision, values, principles and practice.
- Achieve high quality provision for all children from birth in a culture of inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Enable teams to work together, have a voice and learn from each other.
- Celebrate current good practice and develop the quality and effectiveness of provision through a continuous process of reflection.
- Enable settings to develop and improve the quality and effectiveness of their practice.
- Support the development of genuine partnerships with children’s families or carers, other professionals and the local and wider community.
- Support a culture of shared leadership – key people who motivate, sustain, challenge and empower others.
- Support a process of continuous professional development.
This Quality Improvement framework has used the National Quality Improvement Network principles, in discussion with their local authority and partner settings, in order to review and develop their Quality Improvement Programme (NQIN 2009)