Back To School – How are FMs Helping to Make it Safe? 

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09 September 2020 | Updated 17 September 2020

With children across the UK returning to school this September, FM teams within schools, colleges and higher education facilities have been preparing to welcome back more students.

Students will changes to their normal school day, including staggered start and finish times, grouping into “bubbles” and avoiding sharing of objects.

In Kent, Pinnacle Group have been working with The Ebbsfleet Academy to ensure that 700+ pupils can return safely to school to resume their studies. 

Pinnacle has brought in additional COVID-secure cleaning of frequent touchpoints such as toilets, door handles and light switches and handrails.

The FM company has provided cleaning, grounds maintenance, lifecycle, repairs and maintenance, major works and catering services to The Ebbsfleet Academy over the course of an eight-year contract.

Picture: A photograph of the exterior of the Ebbsfleet Academy

Top Tips Provided to Students

The Ebbsfleet Academy didn't fully close last term as around 10 students continued to attend the Academy throughout the lockdown with their parents supporting the region as key workers. 

However, the Pinnacle team has introduced a top four tips for those students returning to school, in line with government guidance this September:

1. Ensuring that your hands are clean! Keep washing your hands with soap and water throughout the day
2. Making sure you catch coughs and sneezes in tissues and put them in the bin! Then wash your hands again
3. If you sneeze, try to trap this in your elbow rather than sneezing across the room; and,
4. Please wear your face coverings if you need to wear one, make sure it covers your mouth and nose.

Gurjit Kaur Shergill, Principal at The Ebbsfleet Academy commented: “I must take a moment to stop, reflect and applaud the tremendous effort, patience and resilience shown by the Pinnacle Team who have gone above and beyond this summer to ensure that we are ready to welcome our students back safely after being away from our school gates for over 100 days!

"Nothing has been too much trouble for the team and the word 'no' just does seem to exist in their vocabulary.  I am humbled by the team's efforts and I thank you for everything you do each and every day.”

Matt Morrell, Director of Total FM at the Pinnacle Group added: “Being able to play our part in getting The Ebbsfleet Academy’s students back to school safely has been incredibly rewarding for the Pinnacle team. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced everyone to rethink how they approach everyday tasks and at Ebbsfleet this has been no different. 

“I would like to thank the whole Pinnacle team along with the staff at The Ebbsfleet Academy for their hard work in making sure the changes we have been forced to make in order to keep the children safe have been completed ahead of the new term and we can open the doors once again.”

Picture: A photograph of a Pinnacle cleaning operative, disinfecting a hand rail

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 09 September 2020

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