The Department for Education has implemented COVID safe measures and testing, isolation and quarantine requirements in schools, preschools, out of school hours care (OSHC)  and children’s centres.

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Testing, isolating and quarantine requirements

Find out what you need to do if there’s a positive COVID-19 case at your early childhood education and care service, preschool, school or OSHC. 

Preschool and early childhood setting – testing, isolating and quarantine (print to A3) (PDF 143KB)

School and OSHC settings – testing, isolating and quarantine (print to A3) (PDF 161KB)

   

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Preschool and early childhood setting – testing, isolating and quarantine

School and OSHC settings – testing, isolating and quarantine

COVID safe measures

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. 

COVID safe measures for meetings and events

Schools, preschools, ECEC and OSHC services must make sure that the following COVID safe measures are in place for meetings and events:

• recommended physical distancing requirements can be met by all attending adults
• masks are worn by all adults and students in year 7 to 12 when indoors (masks are strongly recommended for students in years 3 to 6 when indoors)
• appropriate hygiene provisions are in place, for example sanitiser stations
• attendees are advised that they must not attend if unwell, even mildly.

Guidelines for camps

Overnight and intrastate camps with shared indoor spaces are permitted from the start of week 3, term 2. There is no restriction on travel time to a camp within South Australia.

As per the testing, isolation and quarantine requirements for school settings, students and staff who are a close contact cannot attend an overnight camp during the 7-day period following exposure.

Students and staff should also not go on camp if they are symptomatic or feeling mildly unwell.

Classes should not go on camp if the class is temporarily closed or on a PCR regime on advice from SA Health.

Visitors in schools, preschools, ECEC and OSHC

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

• 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 must wear a face mask when indoors, practise physical distancing, and not attend the site if they are unwell.

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

Parent and caregiver requirements

Parents and caregivers must wear a face mask when indoors. This includes when they are:

• attending children’s centres, preschools or schools for events – for example playgroups, sports days or information evenings
• volunteering – for example excursions or for student support.

Parents and caregivers do not need to wear a face mask if they have a medical exemption.

If there’s a positive COVID-19 case when parents are present SA Health close contact definitions and rules will apply. This includes if parents and caregivers were indoors and not wearing a mask (including those with medical exemptions for face masks).

COVID-19 settings that remain in place

• Face masks continue to be required (when indoors) for:
  • all adults, except when it impedes ability to teach
  • students in years 7 to 12.
• Face masks are strongly encouraged for students in years 3 to 6 (when indoors).
• Testing, isolating and quarantine 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 are:

• self-isolating as directed by SA Health
• waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
• unwell.

If your child is required to isolate 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.

Reception to year 10 students can access a suite of learning at home lessons. Lessons are delivered via video or Microsoft PowerPoint and can be accessed on any device. 

The learning at home lessons and other resources are available on Our Learning SA.