A SNAPSHOT OF CLIENT QUERIES

We’ve picked a few of the most interesting questions we’ve dealt with since our last issue, which may be useful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation at your school.

Query: I wonder if you could let me know how long we should retain documents relating to historic parental complaints?

The Information and Records Management Society (IRMS) Toolkit it for schools states:

(Information should be retained for) Date complaint resolved + 3 years then review. If the complaint relates to negligence or safeguarding then date the complaint resolved + 15 years. If the complaint relates to child sexual abuse then the complaint resolved + 75 years (this retention period will be reviewed once the government and the ICO have issued guidance about the implementation of the IICSA recommendations)

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is quite clear on this:

“This myth runs and runs. School science organisations such as CLEAPSS, the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre along with the Association for Science Education are clear that as long as toilet roll centres and egg boxes look clean, there is no reason why they should not be used."

Query: A child has vomited on a carpet that the children sit on in class. We have tried to clear it up as best as we can but now other children have caught the sickness bug. A parent told us the only way to kill the germs is to use bleach (which will discolour the rug) or a steam cleaner. Can you please tell me if this is true and/or the best way to clean the rug. We have a vax carpet cleaner but the parent insisted this was insufficient.

The government guidance Preventing and controlling infections states:

Cleaning blood and bodily fluid spills

• Clean any spillages of blood, faeces, saliva, vomit, nasal discharges immediately, wearing PPE.

• Use gloves and an apron if you anticipate splashing and risk assess the need for facial and eye protection.

• Clean using a product which combines detergent and disinfectant that is effective against both bacteria and viruses. Manufacturer’s guidance should always be followed. Cleaning with detergent followed by the use of a disinfectant is also acceptable.

Query: Could you please let me know your stance on using old toilet rolls and egg cartons for junk modelling/arts and crafts?

Query: Is there any health and safety guidance regarding the appropriate size of a room or the square footage required per pupil in a reception class for 4 to 5-year-olds? Class sizes are increasing, and we would like to determine the maximum capacity for the classroom.

The School Admissions (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations 2012 states:

The limit imposed is a maximum of 30 pupils in an infant class at any time while an ordinary teaching session is conducted by a single school teacher (or, where the session is conducted by more than one school teacher, a maximum of 30 pupils for every teacher) (regulation 4).