What to do if COVID is at your School or Childcare
Schools and childcare – Bundaberg Queensland
Kindergarten to Year 12 students at Queensland state schools have returned to onsite learning.
Masks will be mandatory for teachers, staff and students in high schools, and will be strongly encouraged for students in year 3 to year 6, when on school grounds. Masks will be made available at schools. Teachers can remove their masks to teach, and students can remove them once seated, or when they can keep 1.5m distance from others.
Volunteers, family members, contractors and other visitors must wear a face mask while on school grounds, unless they’re seated or physical distancing of 1.5m can be maintained.
What to do if COVID is at your school
Check directly with your school or childcare directive, as their process may change. The below information is issued by Australian Government.
If staff or students are sick, they shouldn’t attend school. Staff and students should attend their local Queensland Health testing clinic where they’ll be prioritised for a free rapid antigen test (RAT).
However, if a staff member or student develops COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they’ll be able to access free RATs from their school. Parents or carers will need to collect their child and administer the test at home.
School camps, assemblies, excursions and large gatherings have been suspended.
Schools will be limiting visitors on site, with exceptions for parents and carers of students experiencing vulnerability, and all students attending early childhood development programs, Kindergarten, Prep or Year 1.
A number of activities will be limited, including parents or carers and visitors on school sites.
For the latest information, visit qed.qld.gov.au/covid19.
Childcare
Early childhood education and childcare centres can open and the same advice applies.
Back to School Plan
From 7th February to 4th March 2022, the Back to School Plan issued by the Department of Education includes:
Schools will implement COVID-safe measures.
Limit visitors on school sites, with exceptions for parents and carers of students experiencing vulnerability, and all students attending Early Childhood Development Programs, Kindergarten, Prep or Year 1.
Priority access to Rapid Antigen Tests(RATs) at Queensland Health testing clinics.
Suspension of school camps, excursions, assemblies and large gatherings.
Limit a number of activities including:– External contractors unless work is critical.– Face-to-face parent-teacher interviews, staff meetings and professional development.
For more information and support:
- How to talk to your children about COVID
- visit the Queensland Government Department of Education website: qed.qld.gov.au. Scroll down to ‘COVID-19 latest advice’
- call the state school hotline: 1800 570 793
- call the early childhood families hotline: 1800 454 639
