Hand washing and moisturiser – 10.3.20

Dear parents and carers,

Thank you for your understanding and support with the current situation around hand washing. We are all adjusting to the extra tasks, and wanted to clarify a few points:

• The Department for Education (DfE) guidance is for children to wash hands at key times each day, plus after going to the toilet. We are following this guidance, and this is why your children may be talking about washing hands a lot. It is usually at least 4 times per day, often more. They are managing this well.
• We appreciate the impact this has on children’s skin. Therefore, if you would like to, please send your child in with a moisturiser under the following conditions:
  1. It does not have nut, almond or coconut oil as an ingredient (allergies!).
  2. You discuss with your child about using small amounts – children like to use lots, and the moisturiser then goes everywhere – including on their books and clothes when it hasn’t fully dried. Please also ask them not to share it with other children.
  3. It is labelled with your child’s name on it– we will take this as permission for your child to use it.
  4. Please avoid oily products such as Vaseline or Sudacrem, as this creates an oily film everywhere.
  5. Your child should give the moistuiser to their teacher, and it will be stored within the classroom.
• All children will continue to use the school soap provided. Unfortunately hand sanitiser is simply not available (it can only be supplied to the NHS). We do ask that individual soap/sanitiser is not sent in, unless it is prescribed. Any prescriptions must go via the office, and a form completed.

If you have any questions, please contact the school directly.

Kind regards, Charles Applegate