While there has been some confusion over whether students and staff in the Lithgow area should be wearing masks in schools, the department of education has said it is only recommended for the area and not compulsory.
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While at school, masks or face coverings are recommended in all indoor settings for students in year seven and above and all staff members.
Masks are mandatory on public transport for students aged 13 and over and for staff when travelling to and from school and during school excursions by public transport or by chartered or private transport services.
Schools have been asked to continue to support vulnerable staff and student cohorts, with vulnerable staff being supported to work from home.
All students are currently expected to be at school unless they have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms.
Under the current health orders, there is nothing to restrict students and staff who must attend school from moving between two areas with different levels of restrictions. Students and staff should reduce traveling to geographical areas with higher levels of COVID-19 restrictions in place.
Currently non-essential visitors are not permitted in schools. Some visitors are permitted in schools based on the guidelines that follow.
Parents and carers must follow their school's advice regarding changes to drop off and pick up including staying in the car when dropping off and picking up children if safe to do so.
Parents should:
- maintain physical distancing by avoiding gathering outside of school gates
- remain outside of school grounds (note some exceptions may apply regarding schools for specific purposes, vulnerable students or students with disability)
- follow mask-wearing requirements and sign in using the Service NSW QR code when entering the school.
The NSW Government have introduced mandatory QR codes across a range of additional settings, including schools.
Parents and carers permitted on school sites for specific purposes are required to check in using the QR codes available and check out once they leave the school site.
Schools must also implement COVID-safe arrangements for exams to minimise mingling between students.
HSC specific advice will be provided to schools by NESA. Further advice will be issued on delivery of opportunity class exams.
What is permitted during school hours and within schools under these restrictions:
Schools can operate:
- Secondary College of Languages (formerly known as Saturday School of Languages)
- SRE/SEE
- Sport within school grounds
- Work experience
- Emergency drills.
Community activities
- Childhood Education Services (OSHC, vacation care, preschools etc.)
- Community Language Schools
- Playgroups
- Share Our Space will proceed in-line with current health advice. All visitors will be required to practice physical distancing and check in using the Service NSW QR code
- School holiday programs
- All external providers and specialist programs not directly related to educational outcomes and support
- GAs can conduct critical or urgent works on site.
Visitors
- Allied Health partners and non-school staff that are unable to deliver critical services remotely
- Workers supporting the infrastructure development and maintenance of schools can continue on site. This includes contractors and maintenance providers.
Practicum teachers and professional experience placement
- Professional experience placements are voluntary for all schools. This includes TAFE admin placements.
- Schools should provide face to face learning opportunities for pre-service teachers where possible and mixed delivery learning opportunities where face to face is not possible.
What is permitted with modification:
School based activities
- Assemblies can be held with COVID-safe practices in place. No visitors permitted.
- Singing, chanting, group repetition and choirs are permitted if conducted outside in a well-ventilated area.
- Bands and ensembles are permitted in line with current health advice.
- Dance or drama are permitted in line with COVID-Safe practices within classes. Library activities are permitted in line with the Infection Control requirements.
- Principal-endorsed activities for students.
Events
- Community use and events outside school hours
- Excursions will be limited to outdoor locations within the Local Government Area of the school where the school can demonstrate COVID Safe practices
- Parents and carers may attend for the purposes of school orientation programs
- School orientation programs are permitted with COVID-safe practices in place
- Inter-school sport and physical activity, including the Representative School Sport pathway (team and individual), can occur across Local Government Areas (apart from those in Greater Sydney) with COVID-safe practices in place. This includes gala days, trials, knock outs and carnivals.
- Schools must make alternative arrangements for performances, productions, concerts, speech nights, award presentations, graduations, formals and school dances that support the broader guidance. Personal hygiene, physical distancing, cleaning and record keeping practices must be adhered to at these events.
Community activities
- 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.
Activities that are not permitted or on hold during school hours or within school grounds:
School based activities
- Camps and out of area field trips
- Voluntary student activities of a religious nature (VSA).
- Overnight stays
- International excursions
- Student visits to aged care facilities
- Community events within school hours.
Preschools managed by the department
Families should follow normal sign in/out procedures and COVID safe guidelines when dropping off and picking up. Preschools should consider procedures to support pick up and drop off from the school gates. Where this is not possible or unsafe, families should pick up from the entrance of the preschool, following COVID-safe guidelines.
As per the broader health advice, early childhood staff are exempt from wearing face masks when they are working directly with children. However, staff are recommended to wear masks or face coverings otherwise, whenever indoors.
For more information, refer to Early childhood education and care.
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