New Department of Education COVID-19 Advice for families | Term 3 2021

The NSW Department of Education has updated its COVID-19 Advice for families for Term 3. These rules will apply for at least the first week of Term 3, until Friday 16 July.

We strongly encourage everyone to read the full guidelines.

Advice for families

Sarah Mitchell, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Media Release – Schools Return Under COVID Settings

We have summarised the key points for P&C Associations below:

Schools in Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour)

• For the first four days of Term 3 students will be learning from home.
• This will stay in place until Friday 16 July.
• Schools will remain open for students and families who need it.
• Masks will be required for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

School Operations

• Early childhood services including  including outside of school hours care (OOSHC) can continue to operate for those who need it.
• Families to be encouraged to keep their children at home wherever possible but no child will be turned away from school.
• Implement revised attendance procedures incorporating use of “F” for students participating in learning from home (Link for explanation).
• Minimum staff on-site to oversee one unit of learning for students attending school site, noting that flexible syllabus requirements are in place.
• Canteens and uniform stores are not to operate.
• No community use arrangements.
• No community language schools.
• Continued enhanced cleaning and hygiene supply arrangements.
• No SRE/SEE/VSA.
• No P&C activities on school sites.

Schools outside of Greater Sydney

For schools outside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Regional NSW):

• For the first week of Term 3 students will be back at school for face to face learning.
• Schools will restrict non-essential visitors at school sites, including parents.
• Adjustments will be made to some activities, such as choir and band.
• Masks will be recommended for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards

What is permitted with modification:

• P&C activities including meetings
• Community use outside school hours
• Canteens and uniform stores where appropriate hygiene measures are in place
• Electoral commission officers conducting polling location inspections permitted they follow COVID-19 requirements for visitors
• All polling days will require additional planning from the electoral commission based on health advice of the time.

Holding P&C Association meetings during COVID-19

P&C Federation’s advice can be found here

• Archived