Is COVID-19 affecting children and young people?

Yes. NSW Health data shows that cases in children aged 10-19 are higher than all other age groups except for those aged 20-39. The NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, has said “we are seeing more infections from children spreading, which is not the characteristic we had observed with previous strands.”

A recent Sydney Morning Herald article explained that “children aged under nine are increasingly testing positive to COVID-19 in NSW, with 44 cases of the contagious Delta variant detected in one day and young children accounting for almost 15% of infections in the past fortnight.” (Source: Forty-four children test positive to COVID-19 in a day in NSW, 12 August 2021)

What COVID-safe measures are in place to protect students and staff?

We continue to follow all the recommended COVID-safe practices for a Level Four school. However, NSW Health continues to remind us that any time anyone leaves their home and comes into contact with people from other households, their risk of contracting COVID-19 is increased. 

NSW Health has confirmed that more than 70% of COVID-19 transmission in the current outbreak occurs within households. This means that if one person in a household contracts COVID-19 there is a very high probability that the rest of the household will also become positive. 

To keep yourself and your family as safe as possible, you should only send your child to school for supervision if it is absolutely not possible for them to learn from home.

Why are schools open for supervision if it’s safer to keep children home?

The decision by NSW Health to allow schools to remain open for supervision is to ensure that those students who have absolutely no option to learn from home (e.g. the children of front line health workers and others in similar circumstances) can continue learning while the stay-at-home order is in place.

The NSW Government continues to reinforce the message that the safest option for everyone in the current circumstances – and the best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to your loved ones – is to stay home except when you absolutely must go out. 

When can I send my child to school for supervision?

The current Public Health Order makes it clear that it is only acceptable to “leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home”. In line with this government directive, families are only able to send their children to school at this time if there is absolutely no option for them to learn from home. There are four reasons this may be the case:

• Every responsible person in your household, besides children, is an essential worker (e.g. a front line health worker or in another occupation that requires you to physically attend a work location during school hours)
• Your child has learning needs, discussed with the principal or delegated staff member
• Your child has pastoral care needs, discussed with the principal or delegated staff member
• There are other extenuating circumstances, discussed with the principal or delegated staff member

Students have access to the same learning materials and experience whether they are at school or at home, and there is no advantage for students who are supervised at school.

What if my child wants to go to school?

We understand that many students are missing school and their friends. However, their safety and the safety of all students, staff and school families must be our shared priority right now. It is also important to remember that normal school activities are not taking place, the vast majority of students are learning from home, and very few teachers are on site each day. 

Schools are required to only have the minimum number of staff on site to provide supervision for students. This is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and protect the staff and students who have no option but to attend school.