ABSTRACT
In today’s climate of accountability it is essential that teachers’ paperwork serves to provide a solid evidence base for anyone wanting to examine their practice (parents, governors, inspectors, the court) and should be given due priority. For many, the hardest part of any paperwork is getting started. Someone once gave me good advice, ‘Don’t get it right, get it written. You can then start to make it right’ Once a first draft is ready, consultation and discussion with staff will help refine documents and make them working documents. This way of shaping any paperwork will also help develop staff ownership and a sense of openness, thus promoting a ‘togetherness’ in safety management. Furthermore, it recognises that the development of a safety culture is the responsibility of everyone in school, including pupils.
