Last updated 9 am 18 November 2022 Show
Refer to NSW Health's advice for people who test positive to COVID-19 and Advice for people exposed to COVID-19 for further information. Advice for parents and carers on staying COVID-smart in schools and early childhood education services. Last updated: 17 October 2022 COVID-smart measures for schoolsBeing together in a classroom is the most effective way for students to learn and grow. Since COVID-19 remains a relatively mild illness for most children, the NSW Government is committed to school safety in 2022. Read more detail from NSW Education on COVID-19 advice for families. Change in isolation requirementOn 30 September, National Cabinet announced that from Friday 14 October 2022, people who test positive to COVID-19 do not need to isolate. In line with this announcement, the NSW Department of Education have worked with NSW Health to support all schools to adapt to this change while continuing to prioritise student and staff wellbeing by minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmissions. Students and staff should continue to stay home when sickStudents, staff and visitors should only attend school when they are symptom free. We strongly encourage all students, staff and visitors to follow the guidance issued by NSW Health. Schools will continue to send home students or staff displaying symptoms. Outbreaks of COVID-19A school-level outbreak of COVID-19 may trigger the Department of Education to direct the school to adopt one or more of the following additional COVID-smart measures for a short period of time:
Schools, students and families will also be reminded about essential hygiene practices and to stay at home if they are unwell. Parents must watch for COVID-19 symptomsIf your child is unwell – even with mild symptoms – please keep them home and get them tested. If children have any symptoms, they should take a COVID-19 test. If symptoms continue your child should stay home and take another COVID-19 test. If that test is also negative, your child may return to school if another diagnosis is confirmed such as hay fever.
VaccinationsTesting with rapid antigen testsRemember: Staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. If symptoms occur at any time, your child should not attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test. Schools have been advised to maintain reserve stocks of rapid antigen tests for use in the event of an outbreak.
All rapid antigen testing kits contain instructions on how to use the tests, check results and dispose of the tests safely. Parents, carers and staff can also download user guides of the relevant test they have received through the Therapeutic Goods Administration website. The user guides contain a contact number for the suppliers for additional support. People using saliva testing kits must not eat or drink for 30 minutes before taking the saliva rapid antigen test, to give more accurate results.
COVID-19 positive casesIf your child has no symptoms and there is a positive case in their class, year or other grouping, they should continue to attend school in line with NSW Health advice. Staff and students who get a positive rapid antigen test should register it through Service NSW as soon as possible. Staff and students who receive a positive rapid antigen test must tell their school as soon as possible and follow NSW Health advice for testing positive to COVID-19. Schools will regularly communicate to parents about the presence and impact of COVID-19 in their school community. Parents should expect to be provided with any impacted year groups or cohorts.
VentilationFresh air is the most effective form of ventilation to minimise the 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.
MasksMasks are an effective way of minimising the transmission of respiratory diseases. All students, staff and visitors to school sites are strongly encouraged to wear a mask, particularly when indoors or when physical distancing is not possible. Masks continue to be required for staff and volunteers in Schools for Specific Purposes, support units and for workers who support our students who are at greater risk of serious illness should they contract COVID-19. Find more information on the face mask rules in NSW page and guidance for using face masks. 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. School or childcare centre closureSome schools may need to close occasionally to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks, deep cleaning or other emergencies like floods or fires. The NSW School Updates app sends parents and carers notifications about school closures. Contact childcare centres, preschools, kindergartens and other early childhood care settings directly for the latest updates. Download the Schools Update app
Schools UpdateThe Schools Update app will notify you if your child’s public school is to be closed the following day due to COVID-19 outbreaks, adverse weather, bushfire, emergencies or other incidents. You can register multiple schools on the app.
Early childhood education and childcareNSW Department of Education COVID-19 guidelines are available for early childhood education and care services like playgroups, kindergartens and childcare. Parents can help their children feel safer at school and childcare by:
Read the Australian Government advice about how COVID-19 affects early childhood education and care services. Read more about Early childhood education and care (ECEC) COVID-19 guidance for families. When are you no longer contagious with Covid?When do you stop being contagious if you have COVID-19? It depends. If you have a mild illness and your symptoms are getting better, you're probably not contagious after 10 days. If you have a severe illness or a weakened immune system, you can be contagious for up to 3 weeks.
Can my child go to school if I have COVID Victoria?Where a parent/carer informs the school by phone or written notification, the school should complete the Schools COVID Case Management Tool. Students who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved.
When can I stop isolating?If you have COVID-19, you can pass on the virus to other people for up to 10 days from when your infection starts. Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. You should: try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days.
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Returning to school after positive COVID test
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