New Guidelines

Dear Families/Carers,

As you may be aware the NSW Government has introduced some more-stringent restrictions on the operation of public schools. We are seeking enquiries about how these changes impact on our Service at Erina kindergarten.

While we acknowledge that the operation of ECEC service differs from that of schools, some of the principles around best practice are relevant for our service. Below is guidance around what the Department recommends as best practice. Please note these are guidelines and are not regulatory requirements.

A thorough risk assessment is conducted for any excursion our service is planning to undertake. Local excursions where risk minimisation strategies are implemented (for example where children walk short distances and are not likely to interact with members of the public) may be appropriate. Excursions that require using public transport or visiting venues where there are likely to be large numbers of people should be avoided. Excursions to aged care facilities should not take place.

The Department’s advice to services is to limit visitors to our service to only those reasonably necessary. Examples of visitors that could be considered reasonably necessary are Authorised Officers from the Department, NDIS providers and allied health professionals. Incursions and activities that are routinely run by external providers visiting our service, such as dance or music programs, are best continued using technology rather than in person. Where visitors are required to attend our service, social distancing measures should be in place and normal hand hygiene and cough etiquette protocols should be followed.

Orientation programs may be run at the discretion of individual services following a thorough risk assessment. Consideration should be given to things like the numbers of children attending, requirements for parents/carers to be present, location and vicinity to known hotspots and the overall benefits of conducting in-person orientations. Alternative ways of conducting orientations, for example via zoom meetings, should be considered where the risks of in-person orientations outweigh the benefits.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, on-site Kindergarten orientation and transition-to-school activities remain on hold. Schools are developing innovative ways to help Kindergarten students be school ready, including online discussions and meetings as well as virtual tours.

The department is providing advice to help schools engage families and children in preparation for starting school in 2021. We encourage parents to contact their local school for more information.

Normal protocols for managing infectious diseases should be followed where children or staff are unwell. Staff and families should be encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 if they are displaying symptoms. While staff and students in public schools and Department preschools are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID test when they have been absent or excluded due to showing symptoms of COVID-19, please note this is not mandatory for ECEC services that are run by other organisations. Requiring staff or children to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test is an operational decision that NSW Health recommends individual services should adopt in the content of their infectious disease policies, however this is not mandatory practice.

Social distancing between adults at our service should be maintained wherever possible. Drop offs and pick-ups should be arranged in such a way as to minimise the need for contact between adults. This may be through staggered pick-up or drop-off times or by having staff collect children from outside the rooms at the service. Individual services should evaluate what is most appropriate for their service and their unique circumstances.

Preschool graduations may be run at the discretion of individual services following a thorough risk assessment and should occur virtually with only staff and children physically present. NSW currently recommends against any such gatherings of adults at this time.

The early childhood education and school aged care sector continues to provide a vital service to the community. Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of children at our service continues to be our highest priority. We acknowledge and appreciate the ongoing work our team are doing to ensure they can continue to provide critical education and care while maintaining safe environments for our children and staff.