The Audit
An independent, evidence-based audit — not a checklist
The Neurodivergent Excellence audit exists to answer one question honestly: how inclusive is this school, really? It combines a self-assessment questionnaire, documentary evidence review, structured interviews (which can be held online or remotely) and an independent certification decision.
Start with the free self-audit
A short, indicative self-assessment across all six domains of the Framework, giving your leadership team a preview Inclusion Index, a domain-by-domain radar chart and a traffic-light summary of strengths and gaps.
This is a 12-question sample — not the real assessment tool used in the certification audit, which runs to 36 questions alongside document review and interviews. It's designed to give you a rough, indicative picture in a few minutes.
The full certification audit — four stages
Interactive Questionnaire
36 questions across all six domains, combining multiple choice, yes/partly/no, evidence-present and rating-scale formats. Each domain is scored Green, Amber or Red, generating an overall Inclusion Index and radar chart.
Document Upload
Schools submit supporting evidence — policies, support-plan examples, CPD records and staff wellbeing documentation. Accepted formats: PDF, DOCX and PPTX.
Interviews
Three short structured interviews with school leadership and a sample of staff. They can be held online or remotely and are arranged with you in advance. Interview notes are recorded and form part of the evidence base.
Certification Decision
An independent decision is issued: Neurodivergent Excellence Certified, Neurodivergent Excellence Certified with Distinction or Development Required. A professional PDF report is generated regardless of outcome — schools can fail this audit.
What to expect, step by step
- 1
Receive the standard and manual
After payment you receive the standard and a manual that explains every criterion. Prepare in your own time and ask to begin your audit within six months of payment.
- 2
Complete the questionnaire
36 questions in your private member portal, at your own pace.
- 3
Upload your documents
Policies and anonymised examples go into the same portal. Nothing needs to identify a child or a colleague.
- 4
Take part in three short interviews
Online, with the questions sent to you in advance. Together they take between 90 minutes and 2.5 hours.
- 5
Receive your report
Usually within 7 days of everything being in. It gives your decision, your certification status and your areas for improvement. Every school receives a written report, whether or not it passes.
- 6
Reassess if you need to
Resubmission and up to two reassessments within 12 months of your report are free. A school that addresses the points in the report should be able to meet the standard. Certification is awarded only when the evidence meets it.
- 7
Stay current each year
A short annual check-in covers any changes or policy developments and renews your badge for that year.
See what you receive
Every school receives a written report, whether it passes or not. Here is an example for a made-up school, with a rating for each of the six areas, strengths, areas for improvement and linked guides.
Read the sample report (PDF)Illustrative example only: the school is made up and this is not a real audit. The report is in English.
Possible outcomes
The school meets The Neurodivergent Excellence Framework™ standard across all six domains.
The school demonstrates exceptional, embedded practice well beyond the baseline standard.
The school does not yet meet the standard. Instead of a certificate, you receive a detailed development report setting out exactly what to address — and you can request reassessment as soon as you're ready, with no fixed waiting period and no fee for up to two reassessments within 12 months.
This assessment is an independent consultancy review conducted against The Neurodivergent Excellence Framework™. It is not a statutory or governmental inspection and does not replace any accreditation required under local law.