Covid-19 Statement

Last Updated: July 2021

School Property Matters is the country’s foremost specialist in calculating school pupil capacities and works with local authorities, academy trusts, and individual schools across the country. The company works within schools to measure and assess the sites and buildings and then completes detailed analysis as a desk based exercise.

As a result of the changes to restrictions put in place in England from the 19th July, we are starting to welcome staff back into our office. We will be working to a rota system to keep the numbers reduced in the short term. With regards to site visits we will continue to operate following covid secure procedures as outlined below.

The following procedures are designed with the health and safety of employees and clients in mind and cover three areas; covid testing, travel and accommodation, and site procedures.

Covid Testing

We have implemented regular rapid testing for all staff required to visit school sites. We will also ensure that staff test negative before travelling to any on site appointments. 

Travel and Accommodation

As the company operates nationally, under normal circumstances staff will stay in hotels local to the customer’s schools when required. At present, hotels across the country are open and taking bookings. Therefore at present we are able to work in any area, although we are are avoiding the use of hotels and unnecessary travel where possible.

When traveling to on site appointments, School Property Matters employees will travel separately to the location and will avoid the use of public transport where possible.

Site Procedures

Whilst on school sites, the team will visit each space and take required dimensions. Taking the dimensions involves no contact with any building elements and thus is considered to be a low risk of transmission. The key issues are identified as; interaction with school staff where unavoidable, opening of doors, and use of sanitary facilities. 

Interaction with school staff: The site team will continue, where possible, to maintain distance when interacting with any school staff or pupils in the building. School Property Matters will only send necessary staff to work on site, numbers of staff will be kept as low as possible to help reduce transmission. Where possible, staff will follow individual school guidelines in place and will discuss this with the customer before visiting site. 

Wearing PPE: Staff will continue to wear masks provided by the company where distance cannot be maintained or when requested by the individual school.

Opening of doors: Gaining access to every space requires passing through doors where the handles are identified as a possible transmission risk. When arriving at site, the team will discuss 

with school staff how to mitigate this by potentially having every door be left open for them to gain entry. Where this is not possible, the team will have disinfectant wipes and hand sanitiser to sensibly reduce the risk of transmission to and from them on any door handle. Staff will also carry a door opening hook and will use this where possible.

Use of sanitary facilities: The team may need to use the toilet facilities at some stage during the visit, they will discuss with school staff what individual procedures are in place and agree which toilets they are permitted to use. The team will use disinfectant wipes to wipe the toilet, sink and door handles prior to and after use and will follow hand washing guidance. 

School Property Matters has taken a considered and sensible approach to continuing site work within schools and is committed to maintaining covid secure practices in the workplace.