How To Choose The Right Janitorial Contractor For Your School

TLDR

Choosing the right janitorial contractor for your school is about more than the price. Look for a commercial cleaning business that understands the unique challenges of educational environments, provides DBS-checked & trained staff and delivers consistent communication and flexibility. A professional partner ensures your school remains safe, hygienic and welcoming - protecting pupils, staff, and your reputation. 

Introduction

Keeping a school clean isn’t just about presentation - it’s about protecting pupils, teachers and staff from illness by creating a calm learning environment and maintaining safety and hygiene standards. But when it comes to finding the right janitorial contractor, where do you start?

Here’s how to choose a commercial cleaning business you can trust to look after your school.

1. Experience In School Cleaning Matters

Schools are unique environments as they have high footfall, shared surfaces and strict safeguarding requirements, which means it is essential to work with a janitorial contractor who has specific experience in school cleaning.

Ask potential providers:

• Do they already work with schools or academies?
• Are their staff DBS checked?
• Do they understand the challenges of term-time versus holiday cleans?

Choosing an experienced school cleaning partner ensures consistency, compliance and peace of mind.

2. Training & Safeguarding Compliance

Children’s safety comes first. Your cleaning team will be in classrooms, corridors and sometimes around pupils, so training and safeguarding must be a top priority.

A reputable commercial cleaning business will:

• Conduct DBS checks on all staff and make sure they are up to date.
• Provide safeguarding and site-specific training.
• Ensure all cleaning chemicals and equipment are stored securely and used safely.

These standards aren’t optional - they’re essential when working within an educational environment.

3. Communication & Reliability

You need a cleaning company that works with you, not just for you. When something goes wrong i.e. from a spillage to a missed area, communication should be fast and proactive and that is why a daytime janitor is required as well as cleaning operatives who carry out the work after school hours. 

Ask how the contractor handles reporting, supervision, and feedback. The best providers assign a dedicated site manager who conducts regular audits and keeps you informed at every step.

4. Flexibility & Scheduling

Schools are dynamic spaces, with changing timetables, after-school clubs and holiday deep cleans. A professional janitorial contractor should offer flexible scheduling that fits your routine, ensuring cleaning never disrupts learning.

They should also provide detailed cleaning plans for daily tasks, periodic deep cleans and high-touch areas such as door handles, desks and canteens.

5. Cost Vs. Value

When budgets are tight, it’s tempting to choose the cheapest quote, but in school cleaning, cutting corners can lead to bigger problems later.

The right commercial cleaning business focuses on value, not just cost. They provide properly trained, well-supported staff who deliver consistent quality. A clean, well-kept school reduces sickness absence, extends the life of facilities, and improves morale across staff and students.

At Jaguar, we understand the high standards schools demand. Our teams are DBS checked, fully trained and experienced in educational settings - from nurseries to multi-site academies. We’re reliable, flexible and proactive, with regular site inspections and open communication at the heart of our service.

If you’re wondering how to choose a commercial cleaning company that will treat your school with the same care you do - Jaguar is here to help.

Choosing the right janitorial contractor for your school means balancing cost, compliance, and care. The right partner will go beyond cleaning - they’ll help you create a healthy, safe, and inspiring learning environment.

Ready to see the difference a professional school cleaning service can make? Request a site visit today.