The Bristol Standard Development Group meets throughout the year to evaluate and ensure consistency and quality are central to the process. The group's remit includes the Bristol Standard Birth to Five and The Bristol Standard for Play Provision. The development group is made up of people who represent all sectors in the city.
The Bristol Standard is an example of Bristol's pioneering work to improve Early Year's provision. It was developed to give practitioners a framework to help them evaluate the quality of provision and through the ten dimensions enhance practice in a manageable way. The Bristol Standard has been recognised nationally as an example of excellence and has been adopted by a number of other local authorities in the South West.
Today the Bristol Standard is acknowledged as a 'jewel in the Early Years crown' and has been a key contributor to raising standards in a significant number of diverse and exciting Play and Early Year's settings.
This year the development group has been involved in, and overseen the review of both documents. This has been a lengthy but exciting process bringing together the Birth to Three and Three to Five sections and incorporating Race Equality and Promoting Inclusion across all dimensions in both age groups. It has also taken account of all new legislation. This has been a fully inclusive process which has brought together people from all sectors and our family authorities. The Bristol Standard Quality Improvement for Birth to Five 4th edition was launched at the Council House on 21st October 2009. The Play Provision document was launched successfully by Play Bristol in the summer.