Frequently asked questions for parents

Except when there’s lockdown restrictions in place, parents and carers are welcome on state school sites. However, adults should avoid congregating in or around the school, at drop-off and pick-up time, in the car park, outside classrooms and at the school gate.

When there are restrictions in place that require the wearing of face masks, advice regarding wearing of face masks in schools should be followed.

Schools operate under 'COVID normal' conditions when there are no COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Please do not visit a school if you are sick. Anyone who is showing signs of illness or feeling unwell must stay at home, contact their doctor or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested.

Students are not required to wear a face mask while at school, but will be supported if they wish to do so. Read more about when to wear a face mask in schools.

Any visitors to a school site may be required to wear a face mask including parents or volunteers.

Further information regarding face masks is available from Queensland Health.

School transport

Students do not need to wear a face mask or check in with a QR code when travelling on dedicated school transport services* (for students from an individual school).

Groups from an individual school travelling to an outside school hours activity on dedicated school transport* also do not need to wear masks.

Children 12 years or over, unless they have an exemption, may be required to wear a face mask when travelling on public transport.

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on school transport for details.

*Dedicated school transport is the exclusive bus service for student travel to and from school and school-related or outside school hours care activities such as inter-school sport, excursions and camps.

Schools will continue to ensure physical distancing and high standards of health and hygiene are practised on site in accordance with Queensland Health advice.

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on our standard hygiene measures for further details.

Schools will manage staffing as they normally do. If teachers are unwell or unable to attend school due to health reasons, principals will engage supply teachers as required.

Shared equipment such as library books, school readers, Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) resources, musical instruments and sports equipment can be used or loaned as long as cleaning and hygiene management processes are followed.

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on the use of shared equipment for further details.

The Department of Education has established protocols if a confirmed case of COVID-19 occurs in a school.

We will:

• follow the advice of Queensland Health
• work with the school community to minimise the impact of a confirmed case
• ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, students and visitors are prioritised.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a school community, the school may need to temporarily close to allow time for public health authorities to conduct contact tracing and deep cleaning to be undertaken prior to reopening.

Where a local government area lockdown has been declared, in accordance with the Queensland COVID planning framework, schools will be open to students of essential workers or vulnerable children only.

Dedicated school transport will continue to operate during a lockdown.

Transport arrangements continue to operate for students, including specialist school transport for students with disability.

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on school transport for details.

Anyone can enter Queensland, unless they are subject to restrictions such as having been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot.

If a student is enrolled at a higher education institution or boarding school, they can enter Queensland if they are entering for study, even if they have been in a declared hotspot. Parents and legal guardians are allowed to accompany students who are minors.

Queensland state schools may choose (but are not required) to use the Check In Qld app for school functions and events to collect attendees’ contact information electronically.

There is no need for schools to obtain parents’ and carers’ contact details if this information is already on record and able to be provided to Queensland Health if required for contact tracing.

Students and staff are required to follow Queensland Health directives. This applies to any person who has travelled to or been within a declared COVID-19 hotspot or an area with restrictions.

When working with children, staff are not required to physically distance from students, including those aged 18 years or older. Students who are 18 years or older are able to interact at school in the same way as their younger peers. However, adults should maintain physical distancing from other adults in line with current health advice.

Any child who is showing signs of illness or feeling unwell, must stay at home.

If they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, call your doctor or 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested. Read more about COVID-19 and your child’s health.

If a child is showing signs of illness at school, the school will contact the parent or carer to collect the child.

Health support will continue to be provided to students attending school. As well as practising and promoting high standards of hygiene, schools will ensure that staff use personal protective equipment (PPE) for specialised health procedures as advised by Queensland Health.

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on health support procedures for details.

Students who are unable to return to school due to medical reasons will be supported by their school, just as they would in the case of any extended medical absence.

The learning@home website will remain live.

School staff will continue to be alert to the wellbeing needs of students. If parents are concerned about their child's wellbeing they should contact their school.

Resources to support students' wellbeing, including advice to parents and carers for students during the pandemic, are available at supporting students’ wellbeing and mental health.

Normal school attendance arrangements apply.

If a student is unwell they must not attend school. As advised by Queensland Health and the Chief Health Officer, anyone who develops a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath should contact their doctor or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested.

Please contact your child's school if you have any questions about how it will report on academic achievement.

Parent-teacher interviews approved by the principal can occur, ensuring physical distancing requirements are maintained and other COVID-19 control measures are implemented. Where possible, options for teleconference or online platforms will be available.

COVID-19 has disrupted many aspects of life and this is likely to impact students in different ways.

Teachers are highly skilled at using a differentiated approach to meet the learning needs of a range of students, and this will continue to be a particular area of focus.

If you have specific concerns about your child's progress or any particular learning challenges that have arisen, please raise them with your child's classroom teacher. Teachers can employ a range of techniques to address these concerns.

The QCAA will publish updates regarding curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment and reporting as required.

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on senior secondary schooling and share relevant information, as required.

The department works with QCAA and provides advice to schools regarding senior secondary schooling.

Instrumental music programs, ensembles and choirs can rehearse, provided COVID safety protocols are in place.

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on Instrumental music programs, ensembles and choirs for further details.

Schools are able to conduct inter-school and representative school sport programs for both indoor and outdoor sports./p>

There are health and safety requirements that must be implemented to ensure these events are COVID safe. Each school will implement the required measures based on the type of event.

Further information regarding Queensland School Sport, including FAQs, planning documents and a calendar of state championship events, is available to support schools and sports organisers to train and compete in a safe, responsible and low risk manner that complies with the latest health advice.

Please do not attend any event if you are unwell.

Schools or tuckshop providers will advise parents of local operating arrangements.

Schools will ensure any visitors entering the school grounds, including parents, carers, adult volunteers and visiting specialists, comply with on-site health and safety measures.

Parents’ and carers’ contact details are recorded in our school systems and can be used for contact tracing by Queensland Health if needed.

All other visitors must adhere to school visitor and sign-in arrangements.

There are some circumstances (such as if the school is located within a declared hotspot or there are other restrictions) when visitors are not permitted on site. Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on visitors for further details.

COVID safe health practices apply to all adults on school sites. These include physical distancing between adults, not exceeding occupant density limits for rooms and regular COVID-safe hygiene measures.

Please do not attend any school site if you are unwell.