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.

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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.

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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.

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