Service NSW Health has just released the plan for return to school with Covid smart measures.
As we prepare our children to return to school for the start of the year, the NSW government has today announced these measures.
Testing
Before the start of term 1
All staff and students are asked to take a rapid antigen test and get a negative result before attending school at the start of term 1. Your school will provide advice on when tests should be taken.
Rapid antigen tests will be provided to all staff and students through their schools. Schools will inform parents on how these kits can be collected.
At the start of term 1
For the first 4 weeks, students and staff should take a rapid antigen test twice a week on the morning before attending school. Test kits will continue to be supplied by schools.
Students who are household close contacts must isolate at home for 7 days.
If your child has no symptoms and there is a positive case in their class, year or other grouping, they can continue to attend school in line with NSW Health advice.
Staff and students who get a positive rapid antigen test result must register it on service.nsw.gov.au or the Service NSW app as soon as possible.
Staff and students who receive a positive rapid antigen or PCR test result must tell their school as soon as possible, and follow NSW Health advice.
Schools will regularly communicate to parents about the presence and impact of COVID-19 in their community. Parents should expect to be provided with details of any impacted year groups or cohorts.
Ventilation
Fresh air is the most effective form of ventilation to minimise risk of transmission.
All learning spaces in public schools have been checked to ensure appropriate levels of ventilation and air purifiers have been provided where needed.
Using outdoor spaces will continue to be encouraged.
Masks
All primary and secondary school staff will be required to wear masks indoors.
No vented masks or cloth masks should be worn. If required, surgical masks will be available at schools.
Secondary school students are required to wear masks.
Primary school students are strongly recommended to wear well-fitted masks indoors.
Activities
COVID-19 will be considered in all risk assessments. Guidance will be provided to schools on applying appropriate safeguards across a range of activities.
Parents will be made aware of the risk of exposure and will need to give their permission for participation in extra-curricular, out of school hours or off-site activities.
Student cohorting
Schools will continue using cohort arrangements and consider staggered drop-off and pick ups, break times, playground and canteen access.
Depending on the school, cohort size and timetables, cohorts may be based on classes, years or stages.
Visitors
Visitors on school sites should be kept to a minimum to support essential school activities or student needs. Visitors will be required to wear a mask indoors and will be encouraged to wear a mask outdoors if they cannot maintain physical distancing.
Schools are advised to allow a maximum of 2 parents or carers per student onto school grounds for Kindergarten orientation or Year 7 transition.
Keeping schools open
Parents are asked to respect the rules at their child’s school to help keep the community safe.
Schools will do everything they can to maintain continuity of face-to-face learning including the use of more casual staff.
Schools will need to make localised staffing decisions to ensure appropriate supervision can be maintained.
Schools will not be able to guarantee particular staff for any cohort and students may not have their regular teacher for a class.
Learning from home
We will continue to monitor the situation and where face-to-face learning is not possible, learning from home options will be supported for short periods.
For more info, visit nsw.gov.au/covid-19