School & Nursery Cleaning: A COSHH Compliance Guide

What COSHH 2002 Actually Requires

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require every employer — including a school or nursery — to assess risks from hazardous substances, prevent or adequately control staff and pupil exposure, and provide information, instruction and training on the substances in use. Gov.uk's Good estate management for schools guidance confirms this covers dangerous materials and chemicals, which must be stored securely with an up-to-date inventory.

In practice, this means a school or nursery buying a cleaning contract should be able to see: what chemicals the contractor uses, their safety data sheets, and evidence that cleaning staff have been trained in their safe use and storage — not just a verbal assurance of "COSHH compliance".

CLEAPSS: The Name Behind "COSHH-Compliant" Science Cleaning

CLEAPSS is the UK body that provides health and safety guidance specifically for school science and design & technology departments, including COSHH hazard data ("Hazcards") and a Laboratory Handbook covering the chemicals used in those subjects. Its detailed materials are membership-only and not publicly published, but its role is confirmed by official local-authority guidance — for example, Bradford Council's COSHH risk assessment guidance for schools, which states that CLEAPSS "provide the necessary hazard information to schools on the Science and Technology Hazcards and general guidance in the Laboratory Handbook".

CLEAPSS covers science/D&T substances specifically — general cleaning chemical safety (the products your cleaning contractor uses on desks, floors and washrooms) is a separate COSHH obligation, covered below.

EYFS Requirements for Nurseries

For early years settings, the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage sets binding — not advisory — requirements. Under "Safety of premises", providers must ensure premises are fit for purpose and comply with health and safety legislation, including hygiene requirements. Under "Toilets and intimate hygiene", providers must ensure there are adequate toilets and hand basins, suitable hygienic nappy-changing facilities, and an adequate supply of clean bedding, towels and spare clothes.

The framework also requires providers to promote children's good health, including taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection — which is where cleaning frequency and method (not just chemical safety) becomes a registration-relevant issue, not just a hygiene preference.

Does Ofsted Actually Check This?

Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework doesn't hand out a standalone "cleanliness" grade. Instead, safe and suitable premises feed into the safeguarding and welfare judgements inspectors make for both schools and early years settings — inspectors are checking whether the provider is meeting its statutory EYFS and health and safety obligations, of which hygiene is one part.

UKHSA Cleaning & Infection-Control Standards

UKHSA's guidance on preventing and controlling infections in education and childcare settings states that day-to-day cleaning with detergent and water is sufficient for routine hygiene, with enhanced cleaning during illness outbreaks. It recommends cleaning schedules that specify the activity, frequency and responsible staff member for each area, with particular focus on hand-touch surfaces — door handles, toilet flushes, taps — and immediate cleaning of any spillage of blood, vomit, faeces or other bodily fluids using appropriate PPE, rather than leaving it for a scheduled visit.