NSW school students are to begin their staggered return to face-to-face learning one week earlier than initially planned.
The Department of Education announced that Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 students would return to face-to-face learning from 18 October; Years 2, 6 and 11 from 25 October; and Years 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 from 1 November.
The Department said the change was thanks to the “heroic vaccination efforts” of NSW citizens.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell said an additional week of quality face-to-face learning for students would be valuable and could be achieved in a safe and sensible way.
“It’s fantastic that we will meet vaccination targets in NSW earlier than originally anticipated,” Ms Mitchell said.
“This has allowed us to shift the plan forward for all schools across impacted areas,” she said.
“Bringing the return forward allows schools to keep their plans for a staggered return and provides time for staff to get their second dose.”
Ms Mitchell said that from 18 October, all staff who needed to be on school sites must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Minister said the final date for staff to receive two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine was still 8 November, unless a medical exemption applied.
She said the public health advice for parents to keep their children home from early childhood education and care services was also expected to be lifted from 18 October.
“I know there remain some concerns in the community around a return to school, but students, staff and parents should feel confident that this approach allows enough time to make schools as COVID safe as possible,” she said.
Ms Mitchell said schools would begin communicating their COVID-safe plans to families from this week.
