Why we’re committed to the best in school cleaning

After more than two years of intense disruption, the current academic year seems to represent a return to a more normal rhythm for schools. But one of the key lessons from the pandemic is that now more than ever school cleaning is super important and school need to be kept clean. From regular daily cleans to emergencies, a good cleaning regime makes for a safe and healthy learning environment. Here at Fidelis, we pride ourselves on working as cleaning partners with a number of schools and colleges. In this blog, we provide an overview of what we do when it comes to school cleaning.

The education sector is a vital part of the UK economy

We all know that education institutions are a key part of the fabric of the country. Across the UK, there are currently over 32,000 schools, of which some 2,400 are independent schools, 1,250 special schools and 350 pupil referral units. In terms of educational level, almost 21,000 are primary schools. Together, these schools educate a total of 10.3 million young people and employ upwards of a million teaching and support staff. In addition, there are 300 further education colleges and 130 universities, jointly educating around a million people more.

We’ve done the maths and there are some staggering statistics. Across all these educational institutions, we calculate there are over 12 million desks and chairs to keep clean in classrooms and lecture halls. There are a smaller number of tables, chairs, and benches in dining halls across the sector, but these still run into the millions. And don’t get us started on the number of toilets and sinks in all those washrooms too.

Steps to take for safe school cleaning

When faced with these challenges, Fidelis takes a lot of important considerations into account. School estates are subject to intense daily use and high footfall during term time, requiring a comprehensive cleaning service. Spotless classrooms, laboratories, communal areas, and corridors are crucial to create a welcoming, productive, and safe learning environment for students and staff alike. We provide regular daily cleans under contracts with a number of academic institutions. We also need to be on hand 24/7/365 for any immediate, ad hoc, or emergency cleaning requirements that may arise.

Our paramount concern is always ensuring the safety of students and teaching staff with minimal disruption to learning and teaching, respectively. Keeping schools and places of education clean and presentable means having fully vetted and accredited staff. All our cleaning operatives are DBS-cleared, and they’re easily identifiable from their uniforms. And they receive comprehensive customer care training tailored to working in an environment with children and young people. We can work alongside school staff during the school day. But we also deploy staff members who are available to undertake regular scheduled cleaning outside school hours.

Healthy school cleaning, both short- and long-term

More broadly, health and safety in schools is especially important, given the fact that children are especially prone to certain diseases. So Fidelis minimises the risks of pathogens spreading by focusing on infection control. Of course, this has been a key focus over the past two years, but there are plenty of diseases beyond Covid against which we remain vigilant.

Using neutral cleaning products is the best way to promote a safe environment for students and staff. Not only do they provide short-term protection against colds and other regular viruses, but they support longer-term health too. The chemicals used in harsh cleaning products can sometimes be harmful to human health and to the environment. By using neutral cleaning products, we help schools can improve their environmental impact. We already work with a number of schools and colleges. That’s one of the reasons why we’re a safe pair of gloved hands when it comes to being a cleaning partner for schools.

To find out more about Fidelis Group and our school cleaning services, contact one of the team today.

• Telephone: 0845 431 0382  |  0121 289 3258
• Email: info@fidelisgroup.co.uk
• Website: www.fidelisgroup.co.uk

Post by Jon Shaw

Jon is Managing Director at Fidelis Contract Services Ltd, a business dedicated to performance and professionalism in contract cleaning. Having been part of Fidelis for four years, and MD since December 2021, Jon knows the value of the company’s staff in building trust for successful long-term partnerships with clients in a range of sectors.

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