Now you’ll have to wash kids’ school uniforms every night

PARENTS could be asked to wash their children’s uniforms every night when pupils return to school.

The proposal, which may cause some families to baulk at added laundry duties, is included in measures aimed at helping to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Scottish Government has said it expects schools to reopen after the summer holiday, with responsibility for controlling hygiene and social distancing left with local authorities.

A briefing paper produced by Highland Council for parent groups includes a recommendation for washing uniforms.

However, the local authority acknowledges this may be a burden on families – particularly large ones – and hints that rules on wearing uniforms may be relaxed. It proposes pupils should wear ‘clean clothing daily’, adding that this has ‘implications for school uniform expectations for schools’.

The document, published online by the Highland Parent Council Partnership, adds: ‘Where possible, children should be encouraged not to take bags to school and should work in a new exercise book. The teacher will not take them home to mark.’

Guidance for inside schools includes keeping doors propped open, cleaning handles regularly and decluttering classrooms. It states: ‘Cleaning routines will need to be stepped-up and surfaces will be disinfected regularly. Learners will be asked to bring their own stationery, and forbidden from sharing. Classrooms will need to be ‘‘stripped out’’ and year groups divided into small group bubbles to keep pupils away from each other. In these groups learners will learn, eat and play, with each bubble using a nominated classroom/workspace and set of toilets to prevent cross-infection.’

The document adds: ‘In the mornings, learners in each bubble should arrive at 15-minute intervals and line up in the playground two metres apart before being led into their classrooms.’

The ‘bubbles’ will be kept separate at lunch and break times and will be given their own playground area.

Only one parent will be allowed to drop off and collect children, ‘with no gathering by the school gates’.