COVID-19 - Information for Families

As the situation with COVID-19 evolves, the department continues planning and operating in line with advice from SA Health to support the safety and wellbeing of staff, students and the broader community. This page will provide families with updates as we get them from DfE. 

Our Learning SA - continued learning between school and home. Our Learning SA supports students, families and teachers for continued learning between school and home.

Outbreak management plan

SA Health has developed a COVID-19 outbreak management plan designed to support outbreak management in education and care settings for all sectors.

Outbreak management approaches beyond the normal testing and isolation process for government schools, preschools and children’s centres will be managed through the department’s COVID Response Team who work closely with SA Health.

Current arrangements

COVID safe measures for schools, preschools and children’s centres continue to be reviewed on a regular basis with SA Health.

We recognise that every school and preschool is being affected by COVID-19 in different ways and that principals and preschool directors are best placed to make local decisions.

Face to face gatherings for staff (such as workshops, conferences and group professional development) should continue to be held online where possible. If face to face attendance is essential, please work with your site leader and Education Director.

Visitors in schools, preschools, ECEC and OSHC

Visitors attending schools, preschools, ECEC and OSHC can include:

  • parents and caregivers attending assemblies – both indoor and outdoor
  • people attending the school for specific events held outdoors – such as spectators attending outdoor sporting games
  • volunteers required by the school
  • instrumental music teachers
  • caregivers to attend playgroups.

All adult visitors should practise physical distancing and not attend the site if they are unwell. Face masks are also strongly recommended (but not required).

Continue to minimise visitors attending indoor venues and sites outside of specific events.

Parent and caregiver requirements

Face masks are strongly recommended (but not required) for all parents and visitors when indoors at a school, preschool and children’s centre.

If there’s a positive COVID-19 case when parents are present please use the testing and isolating requirements for education settings to determine what guidelines apply.

COVID safe measures that remain in place

  • Face masks are strongly recommended (but not required) when indoors for:
    • all adults, except when it impedes ability to teach
    • students in years 3 to 12.
  • Testing and isolating requirements.
  • Staff to continue to minimise use of staff rooms where possible, using outdoor areas and separate rooms for breaks where possible.
  • Outdoor learning encouraged where possible.
  • Continue to open windows and doors or use air-conditioning set to fresh air intake where possible.

Learning at school and preschool

Children and students should continue to attend school and preschool as normal unless they:

  • have tested positive for COVID-19
  • are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
  • are unwell.

If a child or student is not attending as a result of testing positive to COVID-19, they can use the department’s learning at home lessons to continue their learning at home.

There are 11 weeks of lessons for reception to year 2 students, and 5 weeks of lessons for year 3 to 10 students.

Lessons are delivered via video or Microsoft PowerPoint and can be accessed on any device.