Lock down and schooling

DAVID Layzell, Member for Upper Hunter has spoken with NSW Education to ensure all schools and parents are aware of the conditions with stay at home orders.

• Students in the Upper Hunter Shire Council area, who have been to a Hunter local government area which is currently in lock down, on or since July 31, are subject to stay at home orders.
• During stay at home orders, parents may still decide to send their children to school as part of the four essential reasons to leave the house under stay at home orders.
• All schools are open, both those in the lock down and those in the UHSC.
• The locked down schools will still accept students for any reason. However, it is recommended where possible, students stay home during the lock down period.
• The schools in the Upper Hunter Shire council LGA will operate as usual. They will accept students from locked down areas. If any parents want to keep their kids at home for any reason then that is acceptable and they will be marked as absent. Children with stay at home orders will be marked as absent – with reason.
• Teachers will not be required to perform COVID tests prior to starting work if they live in the locked down area. Assuming that they are only travelling from the Hunter Valley.