What do we know about the return to school?

The five main points are:

1. No decision has been made yet about when schools will reopen. This decision will be made based on data about the spread of Covid-19 and how we are going in stamping it out. It is unlikely that a decision will be made before 20 April.

2. The very earliest schools would open would be 29 April. And if this were to happen it would very likely be  only for SOME students, by no means all.

3. Minister Hipkins (Education Minister) has made clear "it would be wrong to assume that all schools and early learning services will reopen at Level 3." The MoE has stated that they are "looking at various scenarios and they will be based on health considerations and requirements under Level 3, particularly managing physical distancing. A hybrid model of both distance learning and on-site learning is very likely at least in the early stages of Level 3. The Public Health requirements will affect each school differently."

3. The Ministry personnel are considering several possible scenarios - opening only for staff, opening for essential workers' children, opening in shifts so that children can stay 2m apart, opening for just senior students, a combination of distance and on-site learning, staggered opening, not opening for a number of weeks etc. There is acknowledgement of the serious challenge of social distancing for young children. We want to be prepared for whatever the decision is once the data becomes clear. At present all we can do is to follow guidance and take things one day at a time. 

4. There will be ample notice before schools open. They will not be closed one day and open the next. We will be given ample time to ensure that the school has a deep-clean, that our planning for the term is completed and that we put in place any H&S regulations.

5. The Ministry has been VERY clear that we will NOT be moving out of Alert Level 4 early.

6. At the present time no-one is allowed onto the school site or into the building. 

Chris Hipkins is, this week, working on guidelines for what Alert Level 3 could look like for schools. We look forward to his guidance on this matter. As soon as I have further information about this matter I will share it with you. 

If you have any questions, please do let me know. We look forward to reconnecting with you tomorrow, for the first distance learning day of Term 2.