Frequently asked questions for parents

Our schools operate under ‘COVID normal’ conditions, and parents and carers are welcome on state school sites.

Adults should limit gathering at drop-off and pick-up time, in the car park, outside classrooms and at the school gate.

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.

Back to school—27 January 2021

Each school is different and has their own plans in place for the return to school this year.

Check your school’s social media platforms, website or newsletters to stay informed about the arrangements in place at your school.

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.

Students are not required to wear a face mask while at school.

Further information regarding face masks is available from Queensland Health.

No, in school settings students who are 18 years or older are able to interact at school in the same way as their younger peers. They are required to follow the same health and hygiene protocols required of all students.

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 restrictions for impacted areas are imposed— i.e. a declared hotspot, students do not need to wear a face mask at school or when travelling on dedicated school transport services where only school students travel. This includes activities related to outside school hours care. However, children 12 years or over unless they have an exemption, may be required to wear a face mask when travelling on public transport.

As part of these restrictions, parents or volunteers travelling on dedicated school transport services and any visitors to a school may be required to wear a face mask.

Please see the Queensland Education COVID-19 Industry Plan 2021—state schools and additional information on school transport for details.

Anyone can enter Queensland, unless they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days.

If a student is enrolled at a higher education institution or boarding school, they can enter Queensland if they are entering Queensland for study, even if they have been in a declared hotspot in the last 14 days. Parents and legal guardians are allowed to accompany students who are minors.

Any child who is showing signs of illness such as COVID-19 symptoms, or feeling unwell, must stay at home and get tested.

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

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 Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has published principles and advice for P–10 during COVID-19 disruptions (PDF, 182KB), addressing common curriculum questions, teaching and learning, assessment and reporting.

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on senior secondary schooling and will share information as it becomes available.

The department will continue to work with QCAA and provide advice to schools regarding senior secondary schooling.

Schools are able to hold both indoor and outdoor events.

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

Please see the Queensland COVID planning framework and additional information on:

• school assemblies and functions
  
• excursions and school camps
  
• Instrumental music programs, ensembles and choirs.
  

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

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.