Term 2 Going Forward

What does a managed return to school operations look like?

The phased approach to manage a return to full on campus face-to-face teaching sees students being reintroduced to some face-to-face learning in line with available health advice. The plan is phased, and flexible, allowing us to slowly bring schools back to normal while responding quickly to new spikes in transmission if they occur.

There are five phases to get us back to full onsite school operations:

• Phase 0. Where we currently are, schools are open for families who need it
• Phase 1. Students at school at least one day per week.
• Phase 2. Students at school at least two days per week.
• Phase 3. Students at school five days per week, with social distancing measures
• Phase 4. Students at school five days per week, with full school activities

More information on the phases will be shared soon. Schools will communicate directly with parents, carers and students throughout Term 2 regarding changes to phases as relevant to their school.

Why are we doing a phased approach?

Maintaining the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and school community is of utmost importance. A phased approach will mean there are a smaller number of students at school each day, providing more space to spread out. It also helps to balance the varied needs of students and staff, their families, personal circumstances and workplaces. The flexibility of the approach means we can also respond quickly to any new spikes in the spread of COVID-19.

As the impact of the virus was evolving, many people in the community were concerned about their children attending school, which resulted in the majority of children staying home. A staggered return is a sensible approach to take to build confidence in the community that schools are a safe place to learn.

What is being done to ensure schools are safe during the phased return?

NSW schools are safe, clean and secure places for students and staff.

Schools are being sent additional provisions of soap and hygiene supplies, such as hand sanitiser. We will continue to work with schools to ensure they have access to sufficient supplies.

NSW public schools are regularly and professionally cleaned. Enhanced cleaning is being implemented across all NSW public schools. Schools will continue to implement appropriate social distancing measures proportionate to health advice at the time, which is that social distancing for children is different than adults.

Schools continue to implement good hygiene practices, including:

• wash hands frequently with soap and water before and after eating and after going to the toilet
• cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
• avoid touching your face
• limit physical contact when greeting people
• limit physical contact in the playground.

The following social distancing measures will also remain in place until further notice:

• No interschool competitions
• No ‘in person’ assemblies
• No excursions
• Follow your school’s advice regarding changes to drop off an pick up, including staying in your car when dropping off and picking up your child/children
• Limits on community use of school sites

Additional social distancing measures that can be implemented include:

• Staggered break times to avoid classes mixing
• Staggered school drop off and pick up times
• Smaller class sizes
• Reduced children numbers on campus each day
• Social distancing markers on school grounds

Learning from home

Will learning from home still be going ahead?

Learning from home will remain an integral component of the phased return to face-to-face teaching as schools will operate in the dual mode of supervising a reduced number of students on site, and students at home.

All students will continue to be given access to learning either online or with materials provided to them by the school.

Can at-risk students remain at home?

If your child is in an at-risk group for COVID-19 then they should not attend school. NSW Health advice, based on what we know so far about COVID-19 and what we know about other coronaviruses, is that those at greatest risk of serious infection are:

· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50 with chronic medical conditions

· people with chronic medical conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease, neurological conditions and diabetes

· people with impaired immune systems (such as people who have cancer or HIV, or who take high dose corticosteroids).

Is my child classed as vulnerable?

Children and young people who may have additional vulnerabilities include children and young people who have disability and high support needs, those with substantial medical or health care needs and require additional supports, those living in Out of Home Care (including residential care), young carers, children and young people at risk of significant harm or homelessness, those whose families are supported by social and family support programs, including where they are at risk of family and domestic violence and young people in Youth Justice care.

Not all students who have a disability or learning support needs are considered as vulnerable. The decision on whether students with additional support needs can attend school should be determined in consultation with the principal and the parent/carer.