All schools strive to stay clean and tidy at all times, but there are always areas that are more germ-friendly than others. In this article, the team at JMS Cleaning will look at where the most germ-heavy areas of a school are.

Backpacks

Believe it or not, backpacks pick up a lot of bacteria during a standard school day. Every time your child goes to class, they’ll put their bags on the floor near their desk or hang it up on a wall nearby. These surfaces contain plenty of bacteria that is easily transferred to those backpacks, and then, potentially, the hands of the children who handle them.

Bathroom doors

While you may think that bathrooms are riddled with germs, they are often cleaner than you think. Of course, they still have plenty of germs in there, but bathrooms are cleaned regularly which helps to minimise the levels of bacteria. Bathroom doors, however, are a different story; not every child will wash their hands after using the bathroom, and thus the handles of bathroom doors will be covered in germs.

Playground equipment

Running around at lunch, kids will spread the germs on their hands to the playground equipment they use. Everything from slides to see-saws will contain the germs that kids have picked up during the day, which will in turn be passed on to other children.

Computers

With IT skills and computer literacy becoming a crucial part of children’s education, many schools have computer rooms. With so many children using the same group of computers, keyboards and mice will pick up plenty of germs, which will be picked up by kids as they type and click.

Cafeteria

For a couple of hours a day, hundreds of kids descend on the school cafeteria to eat their lunches, whether they’ve brought their own from home or they get school dinners every day. The tables they sit at will be subject to food spillages, unclean hands and other contaminants that will spread easily during the lunch hour.

School Cleaning Services

In order to minimise the presence of germs in a school, you need the services of a professional cleaning company that you can trust. JMS Cleaning Services offer thorough, efficient school cleaning services for day nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools alike.

Give us a call on 0800 998 1316

Our highly trained and DBS-checked staff use safe chemicals and best practices to ensure that our work is completed to the highest standard throughout Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton and the surrounding areas.

For more information, please get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help.

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Textbooks, pens, and exams are what first come to mind when thinking about what makes for academic success, but research shows that the cleanliness of a classroom considerably affects a students academic performance and attendance. It is clear that maintaining a clean classroom is difficult, especially with how messy children can be! We think cleaning is best left to the professionals, who have the best techniques and products to create a safe and hygienic environment. In this article we will explore why a clean schools and classrooms make for successful child development and a prosperous education.

Creating healthy habits

By implementing healthy habits in young children, you’ll be creating lifelong routines which will protect them from illnesses in the future. It is no secret that children are highly influenced by their surroundings, so maintaining a clean classroom gives them a standard of what to aim for when cleaning their own rooms and workspace.

By taking advantage of children’s formative years, it will be much easier to teach them and showcase the best habits earlier on, as children who haven’t lived and learnt in clean rooms are more likely to be messy and unhygienic in the future, as well as have more health problems (stemming from inadequate cleaning practices).

Reducing absenteeism

Research shows that a clean classroom reduces the number of absences in children and teachers. Young children in particular have vulnerable immune systems, so are more susceptible to illness. Children are known for their messiness, and to an extent, we should let them explore their creativity through reducing restraints on what they can and can’t do. However, by letting children have free rein on their creative instincts, they are bound to make a mess!

Don’t inhibit a child’s learning processes and get a professional cleaner to maintain a hygienic environment for your students. By having your classroom kept sanitised and disinfected, you’ll be protecting your students from illnesses all year round.

Keep good teachers at your school

All teachers want to work in a clean environment, especially as many teachers spend over 40 hours a week in the classroom, teaching and preparing lessons for their students. Many teachers report having to clean their own classrooms, which not only eats into their already very busy schedule, but many do not know how to effectively disinfect the surfaces, which defeats the purpose of cleaning in the first place.

No one would be motivated to produce great work in a dirty and messy environment; a cleaner classroom only increases productivity and great teaching.

Make coming to school enjoyable

By creating a nice learning environment for students and teachers alike, you’ll make coming to school an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately many children come from poor home environments, and to them a school is a place in which they can learn and experience life in a better environment than their home can provide. Children enjoying school makes for better interaction between the students and teachers, creating a happier environment in which they’ll want to learn.

Fewer distractions

A dirty and cluttered classroom will distract students and teachers alike, causing less productivity during lessons. Young children can easily get distracted during academic exercises, so by reducing interruptions, teachers can get better grades from their students, therefore boosting their future options and potential.

From nurseries to offices, JMS Cleaning Services can provide your premises with all the cleaning services you may need. Our team of experienced professionals will use our tried-and-tested cleaning techniques to keep your premises clean and fresh. So if you’re looking for a fully comprehensive cleaning service, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a friendly member of our team today!

The post The Relationship Between Health, Education and Child Development appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

How in-house cleaning can increase school absences

Illnesses related to respiratory problems are often caused by airborne particles, such as mould. In a place where children play and learn, it is the perfect environment for bacteria and viruses to transmit between children and spread through surfaces. It is estimated that each student takes 10 days off a year due to these kind of illnesses, as they can often cause stronger symptoms in  younger children. Therefore, it is important to make sure these areas are consistently cleaned with anti-bacterial cleaning products.

Often, schools try to save money by employing in-house cleaners or getting the teachers to clean their own classrooms. This, however, is a self-deprecating cycle, as schools are taking teachers away from what they are employed to do and teachers may be too busy to do the cleaning thoroughly enough. Furthermore, an overworked teacher is more susceptible to illnesses due to a depleted immune system.

Here are 3 reasons why hiring JMS Cleaning Services would benefit your nursery or school:

1. Funding – Schools get funding based off a variety of reasons, one of which is absenteeism. OFSTED uses the rates of absenteeism to determine how responsive the school is in ensuring that students attend and are fully interactive with the curriculum. Funding is cut when absenteeism rates are high – a harsh but effective rule implemented by councils. By hiring JMS Cleaning Services, we can ensure absences caused by illness are reduced, by giving your buildings a deep clean with products that prevent the spread of any viruses and bacteria.
2. Cross contamination – It is common knowledge that bacteria spreads quickly within a heavily used building. Studies show that bacteria placed on a doorknob can spread throughout a building, reaching 40%-60% of surfaces within 2 – 4 hours. By having a school cleaning company consistently eliminating bacteria from surfaces, you will be able to keep absenteeism rates down.
3. Sick pay – Parents often have to use their own holiday or sick leave to look after sick children, costing both your organisation and the parents. Some parents simply can’t afford to take time off work and pay for childcare, so this may cut into your profits due to parents requesting fewer days than before. Those parents that can’t afford to take time off may just send their children into school anyway, causing even more absenteeism when other children fall ill. Parents entrust nurseries and schools to provide the safest environment possible for their children to learn and play in. By paying attention to your organisation’s cleaning methods, you will be able to save parents and yourself a substantial amount of money – meaning our cleaning service will essentially pay for itself.

JMS Cleaning Services offer comprehensive day nursery and school cleaning for customers based in the Manchester, Stockport, and Cheshire area. Our expert team of cleaners are fully experienced and equipped to carry out an extensive cleaning service, using safe and high-grade cleaning treatments for any nursery or school. To find out more about our office cleaning services don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today.

The post Absenteeism: The Opportunity Cost of Hiring School Cleaning Companies appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

School facilities managers have unique premises to look after, with quality learning environments needing to be balanced with prudent cost management. Good facilities management in a school can improve the classroom setting for staff and pupils, increase running efficiency and enhance the public impression of the institution. Read on for some top tips for managing educational facilities.

Energy saving

Energy usage in a school is a large cost and so it’s always worth regularly reviewing your consumption to see if savings can be made. Small adaptations can make a large difference over time and can be the easiest updates to implement. Consider updating your HVAC system settings and zoning, installing energy efficient lighting and appliances.

Simple changes such as encouraging the turning off of electronics after usage can be worthwhile, especially when scaled up to whole IT suites or school-wide. Appointing ‘energy saving champions’ in school staff or pupils who help monitor such initiatives can be handy and a way to get the premises’ inhabitants involved.

Out of hours

With school facilities often providing valuable space for out of hours clubs and societies – for pupils and the wider public – it is easy for excessive energy to be used during this time. Monitor the use of energy from such groups, potentially drawing up some guidelines for how they use the premises and how to use energy judiciously. You could also try to contain such groups’ access to the wider school to prevent extra, unnecessary energy use outside of their required space.

Lighting

Lighting is an area where large savings can be made and where updating your technology can really make a difference. For example, updating traditional lights to LEDs can save up to 60% of lighting costs. Installing a motion detection system for your lighting is another way savings can be made as lights will automatically switch off when not being used. Furthermore, you can save money by switching off lighting on sunny days or when screens are being used – this will also reduce screen glare, thus helping to reduce eye strain.

Thorough cleaning

Thorough cleaning and upkeep is particularly important in the school environment. Not only will cleanliness cultivate an attractive, undistracting and well-maintained place of learning, it can also impact health. Illnesses and allergies can greatly impact learning and absenteeism and an unclean school will worsen both.

Professional cleaners should be employed to clean the school on a daily basis, ensuring that surfaces are disinfected – thus reducing germ spread – and spaces are completely dusted and vacuumed – reducing the presence of irritating allergens. A professional cleaner will also be able to utilise child-safe cleaning chemicals and offer comprehensive, cost effective janitorial supplies to further promote hygiene.

Proactive maintenance

Keeping equipment well-maintained – from your heating system to computers – can help extend their usable life. This is useful both in terms of saving you money on untimely replacements and repairs, and in keeping your equipment from pesky downtime which, in a school, could have an impact on the ability to teach. Have equipment cleaned and serviced regularly to keep it in good condition – at peak efficiency, your equipment will be running in the most cost effective manner, too.

From local nurseries and schools to large colleges and university buildings, JMS Cleaning Services can provide your premises with a meticulous, tailored cleaning service. With an experienced and well-trained team, knowledge of tried-and-tested cleaning techniques, and a range of professional cleaning equipment, we can keep your premises fresh, hygienic and inviting. Get in touch our friendly team today to discuss your needs – we’re happy to help clients throughout the North West, including Manchester, Crewe & Liverpool.

The post Top tips for school facilities managers: energy saving, cleaning & more appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

The Cafeteria

Between the hours of twelve and two, throngs of students and teachers flock to the cafeteria to eat lunch, leaving a fair degree of mess. If left, this area can become a breeding ground for germs and, as a result, needs a very deep clean. Mud, grease, food stains and spillages – all of these things can be tough to remove. On top of this, the cafeteria is generally a very large place! To achieve high levels of sanitation, a professional cleaning service is necessary to ensure all floors and surfaces are swept, wiped and disinfected with precision, on a daily basis.

It should be noted here, that many students are encouraged to get involved in the cleaning process to minimise mess during the lunch hour. Although added numbers may bolster the cleaning effort whilst teaching children about proper sanitation, it is not a true substitute for professional cleaning: cleaning in this manner requires the appropriate products and the proper knowledge.

The Classrooms

The classrooms are where staff and children will spend the majority of their time at school. With this in mind, it is important these areas stay germ-free. Carpets must be hoovered, bins must be emptied and all tables, doorknobs, chairs and desks must be properly wiped with a microfibre cloth to prevent contamination. If this isn’t done correctly, children will easily catch germs and pass them on. Keep in mind, though, all cleaning products used must be very gentle, otherwise they could cause harm to the students. Luckily, JMS Cleaning Services always use high quality products when carrying out their meticulous work in schools.

The Changing Rooms and Toilets

The changing rooms might only be used for around a half-hour a day, but they can quickly become a school’s dirtiest area. After sport, mud and sweat can linger near the lockers long after the children have gone, and need special attention when it comes to mopping and cleaning. Moreover, the toilets can become particularly foul, and will need disinfecting, bleaching and deodorising on a regular basis. This comprehensive level of cleaning requires a certain amount of staff, and a certain level of expertise – expertise which only a professional cleaning service can provide.

Halls and Corridors

The numerous, busy, labyrinthine corridors of local schools can become jam-packed with students traipsing from lesson to lesson, dragging any mud or debris stuck to their shoes with them. Vinyl flooring can facilitate the cleaning process, however, if proper standards are to be maintained, floors must be mopped and lockers and shelves must be dusted diligently and systematically. With a professional cleaning service, corridors can become safe, pleasant, sparkling thoroughfares!

If you think your school or nursery could use the help of a professional cleaning company, regardless of your size, JMS Cleaning are for you! Our experienced, committed team use only the highest quality products, helping create safe, pleasant and hygienic environments for children. For more information on our dedicated cleaning services, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team today.

The post Why you Need a Professional Cleaning Company for Daily School Cleaning appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

This month, we’re taking a look at the dirtiest areas of the school, and why dedicated school cleaning is essential for any educational facility.

Lunchroom

The cafeteria is a popular congregation spot for students and teachers alike, and becomes a hive of activity every lunchtime. Naturally, the presence of so many different foods and drink – along with hundreds of people – brings with it muck and dirt of all kinds. Muddy shoes, spills and stains on the floor and table surfaces, germs transmitted through coughs, sneezes, as well as all the grease and substances generated by the school kitchen, the lunchroom is a base for bacteria, and without thorough, daily cleaning will likely be one of the most unhealthy places to be in the school.

Classroom

There are plenty of opportunities in the classroom for germs to thrive and transfer. Desks and chairs are used by many different students throughout the day, and pupils will be bringing in with them any mud or dirt they may have picked up from the outside – via their shoes, clothes or backpacks. Germs will steadily build up throughout the school day, on desktop surfaces and doorknobs especially, while carpets can also retain much of the dirt that is trailed inside from lesson to lesson. It’s easy for germs to transfer between students, through shared space and equipment, so your classrooms should be one of the most important targets for regular, professional cleaning.

Nursery

After school clubs and dedicated pre-school nurseries can be the source of a surprising amount of germs and bacteria, mainly due to the fact that younger children are much less likely to understand – or be aware of – personal hygiene. All the toys, games and playtime equipment are shared constantly by toddlers, and it’s impossible to always control or regulate their use. This leads to toy-blocks, action figures, dolls and many other small, handheld playthings being nibbled, sucked, chewed or otherwise contaminated by the children at play. Combine that with things like unshielded coughs and sneezes, and you have a recipe for one of the most germ filled areas of the school.

Dedicated nursery cleaning is vital to maintain a high level of hygiene for children, teachers and parents alike.

Corridors and hallways

The main thoroughfares of any schools, the hallways and corridors pupils travel through – and generally loiter and mess around in – are filled with spots which constantly attract dirt and germs. Door handles are a main culprit, openly exposed to hundreds of pupils and teachers at all times, as are things like lockers, hand rails and even the walls themselves.

Perhaps to your surprise, drinking fountains are also a main source of germs, potentially hosting over 2,500,000 bacteria per square inch. Kids can avoid suffering any ill effects by not touching the spigot while taking a drink, and letting the water run for a few seconds before gulping anything down.

Regular cleaning and disinfection of the school hallways and corridors – and everything that encompasses – is vital for the prolonged hygiene of the school environment. Foot traffic is constant, and without regular cleaning, germs and nasty bacteria will generate and thrive wherever they can.

JMS Cleaning provide professional school and nursery cleaning services to schools of any size. Our experienced team work with the highest quality products and equipment to create a clean, hygienic environment suitable for children of all ages. For more information on our dedicated cleaning services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today.

The post The Dirtiest Areas of a School appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

Here at JMS Cleaning Services, our team have a wealth of experience cleaning schools and day nurseries to a high quality.

We specialise in Day Nursery Cleaning, if you need our help, give us a call on [ld_default] for a quote today!

We’ve listed some of the reasons why regular cleaning for a day nursery is essential below.

Covid-19 School Safety

To prevent the spread of Covid-19, it is important that all staff and students can wash / sanitise their hands regularly. Be sure to have sanitising stations or pumps around the school.

The Government have said that the use of face coverings by staff and pupils in some schools, and to learners in further education is mandatory. Children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults.

– Wash your Hands, Wear a Mask and Social Distance.

See more Government information.

Clean environment

Regular cleaning of your day nursery will ensure there is a consistently tidy, hygienic environment. Regardless of the health benefits of a clean nursery, regular maintenance makes it an overall better place for the children to spend their day in, and for staff to work in.

– Clean workplaces, schools, and nurseries all promote a more welcoming, positive atmosphere, so employing cleaning services to keep your day nursery spick and span will make everyone happier to be there.

Food safety

It can be difficult to keep track of all the children in a day nursery, and to make sure they are washing their hands at appropriate times. This can often lead to food becoming contaminated, or surfaces used to prepare food not being clean.

Having a regular cleaning service will ensure surfaces are frequently cleared of bacteria and stay hygienic for food to be prepared on or eaten off.

– With young children particularly susceptible to illness or even food poisoning from bacteria picked up when handling improperly prepared food, it is essential that these areas are kept clean constantly.

Infection prevention

Young children and babies are vulnerable to germs, lacking the immune systems that enable adults to easily fight off germs that can be picked up from food and surfaces and transmitted through the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Germs picked up by young children in the day nursery could quickly lead to infection and illness, so it’s essential that the environment is kept clean and germ-free.

– Our regular cleaning service sanitizes every surface, ensuring that germs that may be found throughout the day nursery are eradicated, preventing infection to the children.

Professional cleaning

Your employees may not have the time or the adequate training to ensure your day nursery is cleaned thoroughly and on a regular basis. This is essential to ensure the spread of infection and illness to young children is eliminated, so the best course of action is to hire a professional cleaning service to take the burden off your staff.

We specialise in Day Nursery Cleaning, if you need our help, give us a call on [ld_default] for a quote today!

Our team provide a consistent high quality clean to your premises, and our flexible schedules mean we can fit in with your requirements. Get in touch with us today for more information, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

The post The Importance of Regular Cleaning for Day Nurseries appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

Along with the clear health benefits of a clean environment, there are other important reasons why a school should be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis.

• ABSENTEEISM
  Absenteeism both from staff and pupils has a detrimental effect on a school’s ability to function. Sick children miss out on important lessons which, in the long run, may have long lasting consequences when it comes to exam time. The same effect can be seen when teachers are missing through illness as it can interrupt the students’ learning curve.
• IMPRESSION

  The impression that a school gives is important when it comes to encouraging new students to study at the institute as well as the impression it gives to the parent. Clearly, a dirty or badly presented facility is going to have a detrimental effect on how the school is perceived which could impact on student numbers as well as finances. This is also true when it comes to inspection time as a badly turned out school is not going to garner much confidence in its scholastic achievements if the basic facilities are not up to standard.

• RESPONSIBILITY

  

  It is the responsibility of the school to ensure the safety of both the students and the staff. Cleanliness is part of that safety, as is emphasising its importance in the form of education and practice. Again, it would be difficult for a badly presented school to lead by example.

Having accepted the fact that a school needs to be a beacon of cleanliness, the question is: What is the best way of achieving this? The answer is a professional cleaning company. A professional team can produce a manageable cleaning plan that will ensure that all important areas of the school complex are cleaned at the correct time and intervals, thereby reducing the chances of infection for both staff and students. The company will become familiar with the premises and identify hotspots that require more cleaning time and ensure that known danger zones, such as toilet and changing facilities, are targeted on a regular basis.

A clean school is a more pleasant place to work and more conducive to successful learning. The best and most effective way of achieving this is with a professional cleaning company. The experts at JMS Cleaning Services are on hand throughout the North West to provide thorough and high quality school cleaning contracts at all educational facilities. From improving hygiene levels in classrooms and communal areas, to litter picking and graffiti removal around the school grounds, our qualified team take care of it all.

Get in touch with JMS Cleaning Services today to find out more.

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