As the Easter holidays come to a close for some states, students and parents are now turning their minds to how Term 2 will look at their schools.
Each state and territory is slightly different across Australia – here’s what to expect.
New South Wales
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says schools in New South Wales will remain open, but has encouraged parents to keep their children at home to contain the spread of coronavirus.
All schools in NSW will provide online learning options for the remaining three weeks of term one, and while it remains unclear what the majority of Australians will decide upon schools’ commencement, classes are due to resume on April 27.
The Premier said no child would be turned away from a NSW public school during the health crisis.
“For parents that have no option, for parents that are workers, school is safe for children to attend and schools will remain open,” she said.
Queensland
The Queensland state government has announced that schools and community kindergartens will move to a home-based learning model from 20 April until at least 22 May 2020.
During this period, all students who are able to be supervised at home and learn from home are to remain there, except for vulnerable students and children of essential workers.
While this decision to operate under a home-based learning model will apply for at least the first five weeks of Term 2, a further decision will be made regarding the second half of term two by mid-May to reassess the situation.
Victoria
To increase physical distancing across the population and slow the spread of coronavirus, children in Victorian government schools will move to remote and flexible learning and care at the commencement of Term 2.
This means that from the start of Term 2 all students who can learn from home must learn at home. School staff return on Tuesday 14 April. This will be a pupil free day.
Students resume classes on Wednesday 15 April.
All students will be learning from home, except for children on days when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made.
The Department has provided information about resources for learning from home.
South Australia
In South Australia, the advice from the Chief Public Health Officer is that schools, preschools and early childhood services should remain open.
This includes out of school hours care, however parents will be able to choose to keep their children at home.
If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at a schooling facility, the individual school or preschool will close temporarily, and the state will provide information on any school or preschool closures.
Western Australia
From the 26th of March, families were encouraged to keep children at home, if they could access the online or other resources for their education to continue. No update has been provided yet on Term 2, which will begin on the 28th of April and run until the 3rd of July.
However, families have been encouraged to keep their children at home if they can access online or other resources for their education to continue.
Children of parents who need their children to attend school to enable them to maintain employment, and those children in vulnerable families, such as children living with grandparents, are encouraged to continue to attend school.
Independent and Catholic schools will introduce their own suitable arrangements.
Northern Territory
Unless a school contacts parents directly with alternative arrangements, children are expected to physically attend school. Exceptions can be made for parents who have informed the school their child will be learning from home.
As Term 2 begins, parents and carers will continue to be updated with information about schools preparing to move to flexible learning provision.
Term 2 will run from Monday 20th of April to Friday 26th of June.
Tasmania
Tasmanian school sites will remain open for those children and young people who cannot be supervised and supported to learn at home.
Many schools have made learning materials for students that are staying home, and the state has further developed their Learning At Home website with a range of activities for all age groups.
For school-related COVID-19 information in Tasmania you can contact the Department of Education on 800 816 057. Their Service Centre is operational 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays.
Australian Capital Territory
During term two, ACT public schools are delivering learning online. This starts on Tuesday 28 April, since Monday 27 April is a public holiday.
Most students will undertake their learning from home, and the state is asking parents and carers to keep their children at home if they can.
For students who cannot stay at home, such as children of essential workers and vulnerable children, there will be school sites open for them to attend. No child will be turned away from school.
Students who attend a school site will be supervised while undertaking the same remote learning program as students at home.
Source: 9 News