It is about building supportive communities and fostering high achievement for all staff and students. The Index takes the social model of disability as its starting point, builds on good practice, and then organises the Index work around a cycle of activities which guide schools through the stages of preparation, investigation, development and review. The group informs themselves and the rest of the staff about the Index concepts, materials and methods for gathering together knowledge about the school from all members of the school's communities. Each section contains up to twelve indicators and the meaning of each indicator is clarified by a series of questions . For example, here are the indicators for creating inclusive cultures, policies and practices, with the questions arising from one of the indicators in each case.
Students help each other.
A.1.3 Staff collaborate with each other. Staff and students treat one another with respect. Staff and governors work well together. A.1.7 All local communities are involved in the school. There are high expectations for all students.