Based on health advice, the first week of Term 3 for schools in NSW will either be under a learning from home model or with strict COVID-19 restrictions.
Beyond the first week of Term 3 strict COVID-19 safe restrictions will be in place.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said she understood it was a challenging time for students, staff and parents, but she has complete confidence that schools are prepared to manage the restrictions.
“For the first week of Term 3 we will have different settings in schools impacted by the stay-at-home orders to those that are not,” Mitchell said.
For schools inside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Greater Sydney, 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, July 16.
- 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.
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.
“All students across NSW will return to face to face learning from Monday, July 19,” Mitchell said.
Schools across areas impacted by stay-at-home orders are ready to operate learning from home for their students.
“All schools recently completed a readiness assessment to prepare for any potential return to learning from home,” she said.
“I’m confident our schools are prepared for learning from home for the first four days of Term 3, using combinations of digital and printed learning packs similar to those used last year.”
In addition, more than 10,000 teachers and school staff in South Western Sydney’s areas of COVID-19 concern will have priority access to the vaccine rollout.
A vaccine hub will begin operating at Fairfield Showground from Friday, July 16 to vaccinate teachers and aged care workers.
The priority access extends to all staff, including teachers, administration staff and support officers working for government and non-government schools in the designated Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas.
“Over half our workforce are eligible for the vaccine, and now teachers in areas of concern for COVID-19 transmission have priority access,” Mitchell said.
“I encourage all staff who are eligible for the vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and for those in impacted LGAs take full advantage of this priority access.”
Subscribe to Education Matters for all the latest education news.
