Students return to school in NSW and Queensland today - but there'll be no assemblies or combined lunch breaks and classes will look VERY different
- Students in New South Wales and Queensland will return to school on Monday
- NSW government is working towards a target of a full-scale return by term three
- From Monday students will return for one day of face-to-face learning per week
- Return comes as a range of measures are implemented to reduce transmission
- Schools are considering limiting pupil gatherings by staggering lunch breaks
- Assemblies will be at first a thing of the past as schools prevent large gatherings
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Students in New South Wales and Queensland will return to school on Monday as the states inch towards relaxing COVID-19 restrictions.
Students in NSW will return for one day of face-to-face learning per week, with attendance to increase over the course of the term.
The state government is working towards a full-scale return by term three.
The Berejiklian government on Sunday announced the easing of a broad range of restrictions as the state continues to flatten the curve.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews - who will on Monday announce changes to lockdown rules as a May 11 state of emergency expires - has yet to reveal when students in the state will return to school.
But the return to classroom teaching comes as education authorities in Queensland prepare to enforce a range of measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
School students, some wearing surgical masks, arrive for the first day of face-to-face schooling in Brisbane on Monday. Students across Queensland in kindergarten, prep and years one, 11 and 12 will return to the classroom for the first time in weeks
A school student in Brisbane on Monday wears a mask as students across Queensland in kindergarten, prep and years one, 11 and 12 return to the classroom
While primary school students will be free to use play equipment, gatherings of pupils may be limited by staggered lunch breaks and play time.
The principal of Mango Hill primary school in Brisbane's north Tracy Egan told ABC News that staff may even need to personally take children to their parents' cars to stop transmission.
'We'll be really using our stop, drop and go lane and we expect our parents will strongly support that,' Ms Egan said.
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Hand sanitiser will be used in classrooms while large congregations of students, like assemblies, will be stopped.
Some schools are even planning to implement virus-proof protocols in their tuck shops and cafeterias - including an online-only order system.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that any surge in numbers of confirmed cases could see a return to tighter measures.
A group of students arrive at Brisbane State High School for the first day of face-to-face schooling in Brisbane on Monday. Victoria though has not revealed a timeline for getting its children back in the classroom
'If there is evidence or if there is data that shows ... a huge spike, then we'll have to go backwards,' Berejiklian said.
'But similarly, if the data shows us that we're doing better than expected, we can move forward and be faster.'
The government has urged parents to be vigilant about their childrens' health and to keep them away from school if they exhibit any symptoms of coronavirus.
School students arrive for the first day of school in Brisbane. The return to schools in Australia will be accompanied by widespread measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 - including the possibility of staggered play times
Social distancing guidelines will be maintained in classrooms and extra health measures will be in place, including additional cleaning and health equipment in sick bays.
Lunch breaks will also be staggered.
Ms Berejiklian said it is not compulsory to send children to school and parents would not be penalised for keeping them at home.
'It's never been compulsory to force parents to do one thing or another, we've been very clear about that in New South Wales,' she said.
'But our strong recommendation is face-to-face teaching needs to start.
'We want to get to full-time face-to-face teaching as soon as we can - and the best health advice is schools are safe environments.'
A sign outside St Kilda Primary school warning of limited access under remote learning restrictions on April 15. Assemblies will be banned in some schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Children meanwhile enrolled in kindergarten, prep, and years one, 11 and 12 will be the first cohorts to return to school in Queensland.
The state government will assess the statewide response to the partial reopening of classrooms this Friday, before the go-ahead is given for those in other year levels.
It is proposed students between years two and 10 will return to school from May 25.
The staged approach is part of the Queensland government's wider plan to reopen the state.
The NSW government on Sunday announced the winding back of restrictions from Friday, including allowing people to leave their homes for recreation.
The new relaxing of restrictions will allow up to five people to visit a home, including children.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will also be allowed, such as a physical training session or sitting down in a park.
Restaurants and cafes will also be allowed to have up to 10 patrons at a time, while ensuring they maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres between people and four square metres space per person.
A total of 10 guests will be allowed at weddings, and up to 20 people at indoor funerals and up to 30 at outdoor funerals.
Religious gatherings and places of worship can also welcome up to 10 worshippers.
