Accreditation

The STI Certificate from Scandinavian Toy Institute is the only standard available in its field.

Tested / Proven / Documented / Certified

What is required of the manufacturer and product/event?

The manufacturer must ensure that the products he/she wishes to have accredited are already safety-approved. Scandinavian Toy Institute can only certify products that are approved as safe.
The manufacturer must submit two complete samples of the product to be accredited.

The accreditation process
The product is assessed at two of the described test centers, which are carefully selected in accordance with an accurate assessment of the age group, to which the product appeals, etc.
The assessment involves groups of children using the product on several separate occasions as part of ordinary daily life and in line with predetermined test standards and procedures. When the test center has completed the process and registered observations, Scandinavian Toy Institute examines the material collected and makes its assessment and conclusions in relation to a number of parameters, including the 10 Knowledge Wheel competencies. If Scandinavian Toy Institute’s conclusion is positive, the product receives a certificate stating which of these competencies/wisdoms (up to three) are represented most strongly. Some products may undergo the full accreditation process and still not qualify for accreditation. Such products will not be awarded a certificate. In addition to the certificate, the manufacturer can choose to order detailed reports including recommendations for improvement. (To learn more about supplementary reports, see Services)

Product certification assessment

– step by step

Week X +0
The client receives guidelines for shipping the products.
The client sends three complete samples of each product to be assessed.
Scandinavian Toy Institute invoices the client.

Week X +1
Scandinavian Toy Institute receives and registers the products.
Scandinavian Toy Institute sends/delivers the products to selected test centers.
The test centers receive the products.

Week X +2 and +3
The test centres
– conduct 2 x 2 live assessments of each product
– complete the assessment forms
– send the assessment forms to Scandinavian Toy Institute

Week X +4
Scandinavian Toy Institute
– receives the assessment forms
– reviews the assessment forms in partnership with the test centers
– describes and concludes – and accredits the product (if possible)
The certificate is created and registered in the database
The certificate is issued in PDF format and sent with a QR code to the client

Test centers:
All test centers/kindergartens are (STI) certified and they all carry a badge on the front door and a certificate at the leaders office. Both are received and recertified every year. The Certification process for each Test Center is 4-6 months.

What is required of the test centre?
The test center/kindergarten leader and all professional members of the staff who will be involved in accrediting products will receive training so that they are well-acquainted with the accreditation process. If a new leader/kindergarten is employed, the center/kindergarten will be reassessed before continuing to function as a test center.

The test center/kindergarten guarantees that accreditation is part of ordinary everyday life and works with the children at the center.

The test center is obliged to provide the necessary adult supervision during the assessment process. The test centers also take part in the STI network in order to maintain a high level of knowledge and commitment to the accreditation process.

The test center is not paid to take part as the process is part and parcel of daily life at the institution. The test center will in most cases retain the product after the end of the accreditation process.

A label with a seal will ALWAYS be affixed to the main entrance to an approved test center. The seal confirms that the institution/kindergarten is an approved test center. Approval is renewed annually. Scandinavian Toy Institute visits each test center at least once a year to review the test center and renew the seal.

Test centers:
Scandinavian Toy Institute currently (January 2018) operates with test centers (all in Denmark).
The test centers are subdivided into categories:

Category (age group):

  • Nurseries (0-3 years)
  • Integrated childcare institutions (0-6 years)
  • Kindergartens (3-6 years)
  • Infants and early years (5-7 years)
  • After-school clubs (5-10 years)
  • Ad hoc I (5-7 years)
  • Ad hoc II (7-9 years)
  • Ad hoc III (9-11 years)