School using alcohol free sanitiser

[theriverrunsdeep]

Can anyone link me to any current guidance which would explain why a school would be using alcohol free hand sanitiser? Has the DfE issued anything to suggest this should happen?

Apparently kills covid and alcohol free Hand cleansers available

Although it may just be the disinfectant that kills covid

It makes sense, but pretty harsh to require families to acquire specific products when they are likely to be hard to find.

I have alcohol free and it's much kinder on the skin. I'm not worried

We would have definitely drank it at school, but maybe things have progressed since then. It does seem odd as it goes against guidance, have you asked them? I'm sure if you do someone will be able to give a rationale, or if not then have a rethink of what they are saying.

There has been new guidance released by CLEAPSS (they produce risks assessments for all practical work done in schools in tech and science) for completing practical work during the pandemic that says alcohol free only in the labs. Schools can opt out of following their guidance but most don’t as they are endorsed by the DfE and Ofsted. I would link but you can’t view it without a membership unfortunately.
Maybe the school is being extra cautious to make sure none makes it into the labs

If it’s not effective like the alcohol stuff is then it seems pointless. Also unfair to make parents go on the hunt for a specific type when it may not be easy to get a hold of.

@Moondust001

I teach in a school with a high Muslim population. No one has any issues with alcohol based hand sanitiser - they aren’t drinking it. It doesn't matter. Technically anything that contains alcohol is haram. Some Muslims may not strictly observe that, but many won't, for example, use perfume or after shave (if they shave at all) and mouth washes because they contain alcohol.

According to a quick Google, there are sanitisers that are effective and alcohol free.

Are you sure? I'm not aware of observant Muslims foregoing petrol - which contains 5% alcohol as standard in the UK.