Reduce Staff and Student Sickness Rates: 5 Easy Steps

Schools and sickness are two words that often go hand in hand, and unfortunately, this tends to be an environment where illness has the potential to run rampant. Cold and flu season is especially hard on school staff and students, and it important to take steps to reduce the rates of staff and student sickness wherever possible - and this starts with maintaining a clean, hygienic environment.

To help, we took a closer look at the impact that cleanliness can have on staff and student sickness, as well as some easy steps that schools can take to ensure their environment remains as healthy and clean as possible.

Why Is Cleanliness In School So Important?

The importance of cleanliness in schools cannot be overstated. A dirty environment is the perfect breeding ground for germs and bacteria, which can easily spread from student to student and staff to staff. This can lead to a range of illnesses, including colds, flu, and even more serious infections. In addition, not only is an unclean environment unsanitary – it can also be damaging to a school’s reputation.

What Is The Impact Of High Absence Rates?

High rates of student and staff absences due to sickness can have a drastic impact on both individual performance and overall school performance, and this can include:

• A Reduction In Student Learning

One of the most obvious impacts is on student learning. When students are absent from school due to sickness, their studies can be affected, and this can be particularly true if the absences are frequent or prolonged.

• Reduced Staff Productivity

High rates of sickness can also affect staff productivity. This is because when staff members are unwell or absent due to illness, their workloads have to be spread out across the remaining staff members. This can lead to increased stress levels and reduced overall productivity, and will have a long-term negative impact on both staff and students as everyone struggles to juggle.

• Lower Reputation

A school’s reputation can also be affected by high rates of staff and student sickness, as it can give the impression that the school is unhygienic or unclean. This could have a knock-on effect on student numbers, as parents may be reluctant to send their children to a school with a poor reputation - particularly if marks seem to be going down on a regular basis.

When Are Absences Typically Highest?

As one may expect, absences tend to be highest during cold and flu season. During this period, the risk of infection is increased, as germs and bacteria are able to spread quickly and easily from person to person. This is why it’s so important for schools to take steps to reduce this risk by ensuring their environment is as clean as possible.

Five Easy Ways To Reduce Sickness In Schools

So, just how can schools reduce staff and student sickness? Here are five practical steps that every school should take:

1. Regularly Sanitise Surfaces

Ensure that all surfaces in the school, such as desks, doors, and benches, are cleaned and sanitised regularly. This will help to reduce any potential germs and bacteria that could be spreading from person to person.

1. Encourage Hand Washing

Ensure that staff and students are aware of the importance of frequent hand washing, especially after using the bathroom, sneezing, or touching shared surfaces. If possible, provide hand sanitizer in the classrooms and other areas around the school for quick and easy access to clean hands.

1.  Increase Air Circulation

Make sure that classrooms and other areas in the school are well ventilated and increase air circulation as much as possible. This will help to reduce the number of airborne germs that can spread between individuals.

1.  Invest In Quality Cleaning - And Make This A Priority

Invest in quality cleaning products and make sure that staff members are properly trained to use them. Cleaning should be made a priority, as this will help to reduce the number of germs and bacteria in the school environment.

1. Have A Sensible Sickness Police

One easy change to make is to simply put in place a sensible sickness policy that encourages staff and students to stay home if they are unwell. This will help to reduce the risk of infection, as individuals who are ill will not be mingling with other staff and students. It is important to emphasise that it is better to stay away from school if you are feeling unwell, to ensure that other staff and students remain healthy.

For teachers, make sure that there is a good sick pay policy in place - this will ensure that staff members are not financially penalised for taking time off if they are ill.

How Can We Help

Ultimately, keeping spaces clean, sanitised and hygienic is one of the best ways to reduce staff and student sickness rates - and this is where we can help.

Here at Jani King, our team has a wealth of experience in offering first-class cleaning services to commercial spaces, and this includes schools and colleges. By investing in a clearing contract with Jani King, you can be sure that your school will remain squeaky clean and free from germs and bacteria.

We understand the importance of a clean environment, and how it can help to reduce the risk of infection amongst staff and students. So, if you’re looking for a reliable cleaning provider who can guarantee top-notch results, get in touch with our team today - we’d be more than happy to help.