One year ago, we could never have imagined the majority of the nation’s children would be being taught over Zoom with parents trying to balance work, chores, and home-schooling. Living amidst a pandemic has become the new norm, with social distancing, mask-wearing and contact tracing all becoming part of our daily lives. Soon though, schools will reopen and when that time comes it’s essential that schools are prepared to ensure children can return to school safely.

Here’s what you need to ensure your school is safe to return to during the pandemic:

 

1. Encourage Handwashing

 

By now children should be well advised to practice frequent handwashing, but it’s important to keep encouraging them to wash their hands throughout the day. To help keep your school safe, explain to the pupils why it is important to wash their hands especially before and after eating, coughing, and sneezing. As well as washing their hands with soap and water, it is important that you provide hand sanitizing stations at various locations throughout the school, and ensure children are supervised by an adult when using hand-sanitizer.

 

2. Face Masks

 

Wearing masks can help prevent the virus from spreading to others, so it is important where you can to encourage students to wear face masks if they can. To allow children to return to schools safely, make sure that you provide face masks for all students, teachers, staff and visitors.  Follow the CDC guidelines for wearing masks in schools.

 

3. Cleaning & Disinfecting

 

All schools should follow CDC guidelines on how to properly disinfect and sanitize classrooms, bathrooms, and common areas to help reduce the spread of germs and keep your school safe. There are multiple types of disinfectant products that can be used including wipes and sprays.

 

4.Social Distancing

 

Social distancing will be at the heart of how schools operate over the upcoming weeks and months. With schools now is the time to think about how you can incorporate safe social distancing measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your students, staff, and visitors.

To find more PPE products to keep your school safe during the pandemic visit here.