Soap for school?

[UndertheCedartree]

I'm just thinking about what parents can do practically for the school return. Donations of handsoap/handgel, tissues? Cleaning wipes for the classroom? Anything else? Would they want volunteers to help with cleaning or would this be more people on site so not good?

I do worry about schools in deprived areas. I know my DD's school has plenty of parents who would donate but at other schools that may not be the case. So I'm thinking about donating to a school like this too.

Honestly I appreciate the sentiment but I think it would be too complicated - schools have so many guidelines to follow including COSHH substance guidelines, so there’d be issues around which products they use. Also as you say, extra people on site who would need to be escorted or DBS checked and/or the passing over of items that would need cleaning themselves.

Cleaning products aren’t expensive and schools will be on top of it, no need to worry at all. (I work in an inner city deprived school)

I would just leave the school to it to be honest. They have procedures in place and all cleaning staff will have had updated training in best practice for cleaning and being Covid aware etc. I think a bunch of parents helping would cause more problems than it solves.

With regards to cleaning products and personal hygeine items, these will be bulk purchased by the school so that everything comes through official sources. Much easier to quality and stock control.

The most important thing for parents is to ensure that their children are prepared for the return to lessons after a lengthy time off. In addition making sure children understand the need for good cough/sneeze etiquette along with teaching them how to properly wash and sanitise hands. Perhaps reinforce the fact that things they may have done such as sharing a snack, swapping little toys from home etc will now be off limits.

I am not saying that you have not already done / are doing these things OP but really that is all parents are expected to do. The local Authorities will have robust plans in place for all other aspects of the schools getting back to normal.

Thanks for the advice!

I'm not sure that schools are bulk buying officially - I've heard from pupils at several schools (before the lockdown) that the school toilets were constantly out of soap, that schools couldn't afford to keep replacing it, that hand gel had to be rationed, and that their hands were so sore from the constant washing with harsh/cheap handwash rather than good soap. So it might be worth asking the school if you could order anything for them - nicer soap, or hand cream, that they might not otherwise afford. Some schools even have Amazon wish lists (or they did before the lockdown) and they might specify the brands etc on there that they want. Of course it might be that they have to follow Local Authority brands/purchasing etc, but if they are allowed nicer quality stuff, I know some children would be grateful!