OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools From 18 August 2020 - Independent Schools Victoria
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OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools From 18 August 2020 Updated: 18 August 2020
© State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training) 2020 2 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020
CONTENTS
For all Victorian Government Schools ..................................................................................... 4
School operations for the remainder of Term 3 ................................................................... 4
Requirements for on-site supervision ...................................................................................... 5
Staffing arrangements .................................................................................................................. 5
Advice on further staffing matters – all schools.................................................................. 6
Operating model ............................................................................................................................... 8
1. Home provision ......................................................................................................................................... 8
2. Home and on-site learning programs ...................................................................................... 8
3. Access to teaching and learning resources for students at home ...................... 8
4. Health and safety measures ........................................................................................................... 9
4.1 Physical distancing.......................................................................................................................... 9
4.2 Temperature checks ...................................................................................................................... 9
4.3 Face coverings in schools ........................................................................................................... 9
4.4 Other health and safety measures .................................................................................... 10
4.5 Required actions for suspected cases of
coronavirus (COVID-19) in staff.............................................................................................. 10
5. Child safety, reportable conduct and duty of care
in remote learning environments .............................................................................................. 10
6. Mental health and wellbeing ......................................................................................................... 10
7. Other school and curriculum settings ......................................................................................11
8. Camps, playgrounds and facilities .............................................................................................11
9. Sport and recreation ............................................................................................................................11
10. Visitors to schools, interschool activities and school tours ......................................11
11. Maintenance, construction and building upgrades .......................................................11
12. Cleaning ........................................................................................................................................................12
13. Personal hygiene products ..............................................................................................................12
14. School buses for on-site students ..............................................................................................12
15. School Breakfast Club Program ..................................................................................................13
16. Outside School Hours Care .............................................................................................................13
17. Access to devices ...................................................................................................................................13
18. Work across multiple sites ...............................................................................................................13
19. Contacts .......................................................................................................................................................13
Appendix 1: Health and safety advice for on-site schooling
in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19) ..............................................................................14
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 3
FOR ALL VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
School operations for the remainder • vulnerable children, including:
o children in out-of-home care
of Term 3
o children deemed vulnerable by a
The Victorian Government has made a series of government agency, funded family or family
significant announcements, in line with advice violence service, and is assessed as requiring
from the Chief Health Officer about restrictions to education and care outside the family home;
help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19):
o children identified by a school as vulnerable,
• Since Sunday 2 August, Stage 4 restrictions are (including via referral from a government
in place across metropolitan Melbourne. agency, or funded family or family violence
• Since Wednesday 5 August, Stage 3 restrictions service, homeless or youth justice service or
are in place throughout regional Victoria, mental health or other health service);
including Mitchell Shire. o children with a disability and the family is
experiencing severe stress.
Remote and flexible learning in place
Severe family stress
across Victoria
As per above, under provisions for vulnerable
Since 6 August All Victorian government schools children, principals will contact parents/carers
have transitioned to remote and flexible learning to discuss appropriate arrangements where
for the remainder of Term 3, with the exception of the family is experiencing severe stress due to
specialist schools in regional Victoria. the functional impact of the child’s disability
Any child enrolled in a specialist school in regional on providing care and supervision for remote
Victoria will be able to continue to attend. Any and flexible learning (including via referral from
parent of a child enrolled in a specialist school in external agency, mental health or other health
regional Victoria who wishes to keep their child at service).
home can do so, and, where possible, the school In these instances, school/s will take a
can provide learning materials and activities for collaborative family-centred approach to
the child to undertake at home. determine appropriate on-site attendance
On-site supervision is available at all schools in arrangements for children with disability.
limited circumstances as outlined below. This will seek to address the severe stress families
are experiencing and be consistent with the
On-site supervision intent that on-site supervision is to be provided in
Metropolitan Melbourne limited circumstances only to limit the movement
of people across metropolitan Melbourne as far
On-site supervision is available for students in the
as possible as part of efforts to slow the spread of
following categories, based on revised criteria:
coronavirus (COVID-19).
• children whose parents and carers are
permitted workers who cannot work from home Regional Victoria
and where no other arrangements can be On-site supervision is available for students in the
made. following categories, based on revised criteria:
o Where there are two parents/ carers, both • children whose parents and carers cannot work
must be permitted workers, working outside from home and where no other arrangements
the home in order for their children to be can be made
eligible for on-site provision.
o Where there are two parents/ carers, both
o For single parents/ carers, the permitted must be working outside the home for their
worker must be working outside the home in children to be eligible for on-site provision.
order for their children to be eligible for on-
o Single parents/ carers must be working
site provision.
outside the home for their children to be
eligible for on-site provision.
4 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020
• vulnerable children, including: Staffing arrangements
o children in out-of-home care
Specialist schools in rural and regional Victoria
o children deemed vulnerable by a
government agency, funded family or family Principals, teachers and staff will be required
violence service, and is assessed as requiring to attend for duty at their school in accordance
education and care outside the family home; with normal arrangements, making necessary
or adjustments to support physical distancing
between adults.
o children identified by a school as vulnerable,
(including via referral from a government This does not preclude school-based
agency, or funded family or family violence arrangements to permit staff to work from home
service, homeless or youth justice service or where this is compatible with the circumstances
mental health or other health service); or of any individual school. This includes
o any child with a disability. arrangements such as merged classes, where
this can be managed within the health guidelines.
This decision must be made by a principal using
Requirements for on-site the consultative arrangements agreed at the
supervision school. The principal must be assured that:
All schools, except specialist schools in • meeting such a request will not compromise
regional Victoria their capacity to provide on-site learning for
• Schools should provide on-site attendance as many students as may attend on any given
forms to families requiring on-site supervision school day
so they can indicate the days/ part-days that • it is reasonably practicable for the teacher
will be required, to enable schools to plan for or teachers to work from home (including
adequate resourcing. Forms for Metropolitan the use of a reliable, safe and secure
Melbourne schools are available here. Forms digital environment).
for Regional Victoria schools are available here. In implementing such arrangements, the
• The Students at Risk Planning Tool can assist principal, teachers and staff have a joint and
schools to identify students who may be shared responsibility, through local consultative
vulnerable and require supports to maintain arrangements, to ensure that to the fullest
engagement and connection with education. extent possible a fair and equitable share of
• The learning program delivered on-site will be the workload involved in supporting on-site
the same as the learning program delivered to learning is maintained, noting that the principal
students undertaking remote learning. retains full authority for the management of the
• Students learning on-site will be supervised school workforce.
by school staff on-site but follow the teaching These arrangements can be extended to members
and learning program provided by their of the principal class providing the above
classroom teacher. conditions are met, in particular for the school to
• Students attending on-site must be supervised be managed at an appropriate level of seniority
at all times by staff with either current Victorian for a full school day.
Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration or
All schools (except specialist schools in rural and
a Working with Children Check. Education
regional Victoria)
Support staff can provide direct support to
and supervision of students, provided they It continues to be the principal’s responsibility
have access to support from a VIT-registered to make the school-based decisions required
teacher. to deliver Government education objectives
in accordance with the Victorian Government
• The guide to absence coding is available on
Schools Agreement 2017.
the Promote and Manage Student Attendance
page. Where teachers and support staff are not required
on-site, they must work from home.
Where possible, school leadership should be
represented on-site. Principals will need to ensure
that there are sufficient staff on-site to run the
school’s teaching and learning programs.
Principals should consult their staff to identify
those willing and able to work on-site, either in
an ongoing or rostered basis. They should ensure
staff are consulted on, and have input into, the
ways work may be organised and allocated.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 5Staff work hours at home should be consistent on-site where there are compelling personal
with the attendance arrangements already compassionate grounds pertaining to
in place at each school, and determined in that employee.
accordance with the school’s local consultative
arrangements. Advice on further staffing matters –
Schools should communicate these hours of work all schools
to parents/carers and indicate that teachers
and support staff are not required and will not School staff access to on-site supervision
necessarily be available to students or families/ and childcare
carers outside these hours.
Metropolitan Melbourne
Staff working from home, including teachers and • staff working on-site to support a school’s
education support staff, will not visit or work in supervision program are able to have their
students’ homes. children attend their usual school for those
Working alone or in isolation from others presents days they are working on-site, where they are
hazards of which employees should be made single parents/ carers and where both parents
aware, including impacts on mental wellbeing. are permitted workers who must work on-site
Principals and school staff are encouraged to and cannot work from home and no other
develop a program of regular contact with staff arrangements can be made.
who are working from home. • school staff working on-site and working from
Departmental policy and guidelines can be found home have access to childcare as permitted
on HRWeb. workers, where no other arrangements can be
made.
On site staffing requirements may vary
between schools and may change over time as Regional Victoria
attendance varies. • staff working on-site to support a school’s
supervision program are able to have their
If it is necessary to identify which staff are to work
children attend their usual school for those
on-site either for a specified day or days or as part
days they are working on-site, where they
of a roster to meet the above requirements, the
are single parents/ carers and where both
school should follow procedures determined at the
parents cannot work from home and no other
school using the school’s consultative procedures
arrangements can be made.
or in the absence of local arrangements the
following process should be used: • childcare and kindergarten remain open as
usual in regional Victoria.
a. The principal will notify all staff they are
• Further advice is available on the DHHS
seeking volunteers to be available to work on-
website.
site for a specified day or days or as part of
a roster. Casual relief teachers and pre-service
b. If there are insufficient volunteers, Casual teacher placements
Relief Teachers (CRTs) should be engaged.
• Schools may need to engage CRT staff to cover
If insufficient CRTs are available, the principal
staff absences and ensure sufficient staffing
should approach their Senior Education
on-site to meet requirements. If principals are
Improvement Leader (SEIL) to establish if
concerned about cost pressures or a forecast
any staff from other schools in the network
deficit budget position, please contact the
are available.
School Financial Management Support Unit for
c. Where it has been identified through (a) and support or advice:
(b) above, that there are insufficient staff to schools.finance.support@education.vic.gov.au
meet the needs of the school, the principal or (03)7022 2222
will provide an opportunity for the employees
• Schools in stage 3 restricted areas should
to provide reasons why they should not be
continue to receive and accept applications
considered for work on-site for a specified day
for pre-service placements to ensure pre-
or days or as part of a roster.
service teachers are able to meet graduation
d. The principal will take into account the overall requirements. Pre-service teachers can attend
work needs of the school and the submissions schools on-site. For more information, visit
from individual employees in accordance with the pre-service teacher placements during
(c) above in determining which staff will be coronavirus (COVID-19) web page. An example
required to work on-site for a specified day or of the support that a pre-service teacher can
days or as part of a roster. provide during remote and flexible learning
e. The principal will make every effort to ensure is available here: How final year pre-service
that an employee is not identified to work teachers can help you.
6 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020• Pre-service teachers may not attend on- • Services will be delivered both remotely
site at schools under Stage 4 restrictions and onsite to ensure that services that are
in Metropolitan Melbourne. The amended required onsite can still be delivered based on
permitted worker directions no longer allows operational requirements and the service that
for pre-service placements on-site in Stage 4 needs to be provided.
restricted areas. Schools with placements that • Schools will also continue to have access to a
have already commenced in Stage 4 areas dedicated Regional Health and Wellbeing Key
should contact People Division email or phone Contact (HWKC) for the rest of the school year.
for further advice. Schools in Stage 4 areas are
• For further advice, see the Coronavirus
encouraged to continue placements where a
(COVID-19) — Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion
pre-service teachers can work remotely.
Workforces page in the Policy and Advisory
Library.
Staff who may be medically vulnerable
• Advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer is Reimbursement of Casual Relief Teachers
that, as with other members of the community,
(CRTs) travel and accommodation costs
teachers and other school staff may be at
greater risk of more serious illness if they • To increase the pool of available CRTs in
contract coronavirus (COVID-19) if they are: regional schools, the Department of Education
and Training (the Department) is trialling a
o aged 70 years and older
process of reimbursing regional schools for CRT
o aged 65 years and older and with chronic costs of travel/mileage and accommodation.
medical conditions. This trial will run initially from 3 August 2020 to
o of any age and have a compromised 18 September 2020.
immune system • Schools will be responsible for the payment of
o Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and are the CRT’s salary. This arrangement will apply
aged over 50 years and with one or more to schools designated by the Department as
chronic medical conditions. ‘regional’. A list of eligible schools can be found
• Staff who are medically vulnerable should here. It will not apply to schools within the
seek advice from their medical practitioner in metropolitan Melbourne area.
relation to their on-site attendance. Where the • Claims for reimbursement of travel/mileage and
employee is unable to work either on-site or accommodation costs may be made by schools
remotely, they can access personal leave by that engage CRTs either via an agency or as
providing a medical certificate. school council employees. The Department
• Similarly, staff who are living with or caring has advised the agencies of the trial period,
for elderly or chronically ill relatives should the eligible schools and the reimbursement
seek advice from the medical practitioner criteria. Where the reimbursement criteria have
of the person for whom they are caring to been met, the schools are to lodge the claims
determine if they can attend on-site or should via the Schools Targeted Finding Governance
work remotely. They should provide a medical (STFG) Portal.
certificate if they are seeking to access • More information about the reimbursement
personal leave. process and criteria can be found here.
• The Medical Advisory Service is a specialised
support service for principals to help them Working from Home Allowance
fulfil their responsibilities in relation to • Employees will receive the working from
employee health. home allowance.
• The allowance is $20 per week for home office
Health Wellbeing and Inclusion consumables and utilities. This $20 per week
Workforces - Service Provision in Schools will be paid on a pro-rata basis based on an
• Regional Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion employee’s time fraction.
Workforces (HWIW) will continue to provide • Employees on any type of leave (paid or
support to schools, students and parents/ unpaid) will not qualify for the payment, until
carers. These comprise: their leave ends and they commence or resume
o Student Support Services (SSS) working remotely.
o Primary and Secondary School Nurses
o Visiting Teachers
o Koorie Engagement Support Officers
(KESOs)
o other region or area-based staff whose key
role is to provide support to schools.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 7OPERATING MODEL
1. Home provision o For students in Years 3 to 6 and Years 7 to
10, schools will provide learning programs
• The parent or carer is responsible for students’ allocated as follows:
general safety at home or elsewhere.
– Literacy: 45-60 minutes
• Students and parents/families should be given
clear information about how and when they will – Numeracy: 30-45 minutes
receive learning materials and feedback. – Physical activities: 30 minutes
• Schools will create and communicate a – Additional curriculum areas: 90 minutes
schedule or calendar that shows what is • Where appropriate, for students with disability
expected of students in relation to the and students in specialist schools who may
completion of learning tasks. be ungraded, teachers will be guided by age-
• For students with a disability, students in out- equivalent daily minimum guidelines, with
of-home care and Koorie students, schools consideration of the student’s stage of learning
and the parents/ carer should continue to and individual education plan.
work together via the Student Support Group • English language schools and English language
(maintaining a current Individual Education centres, Tech schools, KIOSC and Maths and
Plan (IEP)) to identify and plan responses for Science Specialist Centres should offer remote
areas of need. learning opportunities.
• Principals and school staff must: • Where international students are living in
o identify risks that are reasonably a homestay arrangement, the school may
foreseeable for students who are learning need to provide additional welfare support
at home to those students, given their particular
o take reasonable steps that are in the vulnerabilities living apart from their family, in a
school’s control to prevent reasonably foreign country.
foreseeable harm to students.
• For more information, see fact sheet:
3. Access to teaching and learning
Child Safety, Reportable Conduct and Duty of resources for students at home
Care in Remote Online Learning. • For students who do not have access to digital
technologies at home, schools will loan existing
2. Home and on-site learning programs devices, including those previously provided by
the Department.
• The learning program delivered on-site will be
the same as the learning program delivered to • Where additional devices are required, these
students undertaking remote learning. will be provided by the Department where
schools have used a range of funding sources,
• The following are the daily minimum guidelines
including equity funding and CSE funding, to
schools are expected to meet for students in
purchase equipment to be loaned to students
Prep to Year 10.
free of charge.
o For students in Prep to Year 2, schools will
• The Department will also provide network
provide learning programs that include
access to the extent possible for students who
the following:
may not be able to connect at home.
– literacy activities that take a total of
• Schools are also able to provide hard copies of
about 45-60 minutes
learning resources in the event of an internet
– numeracy activities of about 30- outage or in cases where it is not possible for
45 minutes students to have any digital access.
– additional learning areas, play-based • Schools must follow e-safety policies
learning and physical activity of about and procedures.
30-45 minutes.
8 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 20204. Health and safety measures 4.3 Face coverings in schools
• This guidance applies to schools in the context • All school-based staff must wear face
of on-site learning and supervision. coverings at school, and when travelling to and
from school.
• The Safety Management Plan for COVID-19
(COVIDSafe Plan) applies to all schools, and • Teachers and education support staff are
outlines the key OHS risks and links to the latest not be required to wear face coverings while
guidance. In conjunction with this Operations teaching, but those who wish to do so, can.
Guide, it sets out the approach for managing Teachers should wear face coverings in
safety risks in schools in accordance with the other areas of the school when not teaching
minimum requirements for COVIDSafe Plans. (for example, in the staffroom, on yard
duty and when providing first aid or taking
• The Department’s OHS Advisory Service or local
temperatures), and when travelling to and
OHS regional officer can assist in tailoring the
from school.
plan to individual school needs. Schools should
use their OHS consultation mechanisms to • Health, wellbeing and inclusion staff are
implement the health and safety guidance to required to wear face coverings, unless an
the extent reasonably practicable, and escalate exemption applies, including the need for ‘clear
unresolved issues via eduSafe, which is being enunciation or visibility of their mouth’ (for
proactively monitored by the Department to example, when undertaking a speech therapy
provide support. Principals can also promote intervention or working with individuals who are
the COVID-19 Health, Safety and Wellbeing deaf or hard of hearing).
Support for Schools page. • Students who attend primary school for on-site
supervision, including students in Prep to Year
4.1 Physical distancing 6 who attend a P-12 school, will not be required
• The Australian Health Protection Principal to wear a face covering. Students who are
Committee (AHPPC) has advised that a ‘venue aged 12 or over by Year 6 are required to wear
density rule’ of no more than one person face coverings.
per four square metres is not appropriate • Some students and staff are exempt from
or practical in classrooms or corridors, nor these requirements. This includes students who
maintaining 1.5 metres between students attend specialist schools, are over the age of 12
during classroom activities. The Victorian Chief and are unable to wear a face covering due to
Health Officer has not recommended additional the nature of their disability. This also includes
physical distancing measures be put in place students or staff who have a medical condition,
for senior students at schools where it is not such as problems with their breathing, a serious
practicable to do so. skin condition on the face, a disability or a
• Close attention and proactive management mental health condition.
must be provided so staff can physically • Parents/carers will be required to wear face
distance. Specific attention should be paid to:: coverings whenever they leave the house,
o using spaces within the school that can including for school drop off and pick up. If
support physical distancing for staff, such as they are travelling in a car alone, or only with
libraries and vacant classrooms members of their household, they do not need
o signage and rostering so that access to to wear a mask.
physical spaces and food preparation areas • School staff should refer to the Department
can be managed guidance for the use of personal protective
o offices being appropriately spaced equipment (PPE) in education to determine
when additional PPE is required and for
o the careful management of movement information on the correct and safe use of PPE.
of adults through school reception,
complemented with clear signage and • Schools should display information and signage
access to sanitiser. at school entrances and in communal areas
such as staff rooms as reminders for staff to
4.2 Temperature checks wear face coverings when not teaching. Posters
are available in the communications support
In order to support community awareness of the
pack.
symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) and to help
identify children displaying symptoms, all schools • Schools should ensure that staff wear face
should undertake temperature screening of coverings when required to as set out above.
students participating in the on-site supervision
program while the stay at home restrictions are
in place. Further advice on these requirements is
available here.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 94.4 Other health and safety measures o inform all staff (including the Health and
• Hand sanitiser should be made available at Safety Representative) to be vigilant about
entry points to classrooms and education will the onset of symptoms, if they become
be provided on hand hygiene. unwell they must notify their principal, get
tested and self-isolate. A draft email for you
• Playground equipment can be used by to send to do this is here. Further information
students. However, students should practise on consulting with your staff is available
hand hygiene before and after use. here.
• Schools should consider the necessity of using
shared equipment at this time. If used, strict Risk assessment for three or more
hand hygiene should be followed before and suspected cases
after use. There is no requirement for books to If there are three or more suspected cases of
be placed aside for a given period after use or if staff at your school within a five-day period,
loaned to students. contact DET by calling 1800 126 126 to report an
• Students should bring their own water bottle IRIS incident alert. The school will be supported to
for use at school as students should not drink undertake a risk assessment.
directly from drinking fountains at this time.
Taps may be used to refill water bottles. 5. Child safety, reportable conduct
• The Department’s Students Using Mobile and duty of care in remote
Phones Policy remains in place. Remind staff learning environments
and students to clean their phones regularly.
Phones can be turned on with the COVID SAFE • The Child safety, reportable conduct and duty
app activated immediately before and after of care in remote learning environments fact
school. Schools are managed environments sheet provides advice to all staff about how
that include records of student, staff and visitor to support child safety in remote learning
attendance, which can support contact tracing. environments.
• Full Health Advice is provided at Appendix 1. • If school staff become aware of an incident,
receive a disclosure or form a reasonable belief
4.5 Required actions for suspected cases that a child has been abused or is at risk of
abuse, they must follow all normal procedures
of coronavirus (COVID-19) in staff
for responding to and reporting child abuse,
• Staff members who are unwell must stay home. including the Four Critical Actions for Schools.
• Any staff member is considered a suspected
case if they experience the following symptoms: 6. Mental health and wellbeing
fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat,
loss of smell or taste. • The mental health and wellbeing of principals,
teachers, school staff and students remains an
• As soon as practicable after becoming aware important consideration.
of a suspected case in a staff member, and that
the staff member has attended on a school • The Department continues to provide its
site whilst symptomatic or 48 hours prior to the full suite of services to support staff mental
onset of symptoms, the Principal must take the health and wellbeing. This includes services
following for actions: and resources aimed at addressing individual
needs, as well as tools and supports to help
o direct the staff member to self-isolate, by guide staff through this time. Specific examples
travelling home immediately. If immediate include:
travel home is not possible, the staff member
must be directed to self-isolate at school, o for principal class employees: Proactive
in a separate room where possible, while Wellbeing Supervision service which
wearing a face covering and remaining at has been extended to include assistant
least 1.5 metres from any other person, until principals during 2020; the Early Intervention
they can travel home. Program for more intensive support; and
all other Principal Health and Wellbeing
o advise the staff member to be tested services
for coronavirus (COVID-19) as soon as
practicable, and to self-isolate whilst o for all staff: personalised over-the-phone
awaiting the result of that test; and video counselling through the Employee
Assistance Program
o manage the risk posed by the suspected
case, including by arranging for cleaning of o for all staff and all people managers:
areas used by the staff member, and high Wellbeing Webinars cover a range of
touch areas. Please see section 12 – Cleaning relevant topics for the current situation for
or contact the VSBA Cleaning team on all staff and people managers.
cleaning@education.vic.gov.au • More information and the full list of supports
and services can be found on the COVID-19
10 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020Health, Safety and Wellbeing Support for 10. Visitors to schools, interschool
Schools page. activities and school tours
• More information on supporting students can
be found at the Mental health, wellbeing and • Visitors to school grounds must be limited to
support page those delivering or supporting essential school
services and operations (e.g. student health and
• More information on supporting parents can be wellbeing services, cleaning and maintenance
found at the Managing screen time, health and workers).
wellbeing page
• To support contact tracing, schools must
• The Regional Health and Wellbeing contact role keep a record of all staff, students and visitors
and supports for schools will remain in place who attend on-site for more than 15 minutes.
for Terms 3 and 4. Department Regional staff Schools must record the name, contact details,
will be available to attend schools, practising date, and time of attendance at school, as
physical distancing. well as the areas of the school that the person
attended. Schools can use existing mechanisms
7. Other school and curriculum settings such as visitor sign-in procedures, student
• The following settings should provide remote attendance records and staffing rosters to
learning options where possible and close for record this information.
face-to-face provision: • Additional staff, including parent volunteers,
o The Victorian School of Languages (VSL) must not attend school at this time.
o Community Language Schools (CLSs) • Parent-teacher information sessions and
interviews must be replaced with online and
o MARC/MACC services
video alternatives.
o Outdoor education schools and camps, and
• Activities that involve on-site attendance by
leadership schools.
students from different educational institutions
• Government school staff in these settings are (e.g. interschool sport or interschool debating)
expected to work remotely wherever possible, must not take place or be replaced, where
or on-site where there is no other option. possible, with virtual alternatives.
Where staff are not able to continue working
• Schools must not conduct on-site school tours
due to health or other issues, they will need to
for prospective students and their families at
access leave.
this time.
8. Camps, playgrounds and facilities • Visitors to school grounds must comply with
physical distancing and face covering advice
The following apply to all schools until set out in this document, and practise good
further notice: hand hygiene.
• school camps and excursions cannot take
place at this time 11. Maintenance, construction and
• playgrounds should not be made available for building upgrades
community use In metropolitan Melbourne, Stage 4 restrictions
• community groups are not permitted to use now apply. School construction and maintenance
school facilities (indoor or outdoor). projects are affected by these restrictions. The
Victorian School Building Authority has classified
9. Sport and recreation each of these projects in one of three ways:
• In line with community advice, reasonable 1. ‘State Critical Infrastructure Projects’ and
precautions are still advised to reduce the risk essential maintenance will be able to continue,
of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission in the reducing workers on site where practical to do
context of sport and recreation. so. This includes new schools opening next year,
• Outdoor facilities are preferred for physical upgrades essential to ensuring the state can
education and recreational play. Where indoor meet short-term enrolment needs, and other
facilities are used, the number of students work critical for school safety.
should be limited to maximise physical 2. Restricted Operations projects will be able
distancing. to continue but in a reduced way, with the
• Non-contact sports should be encouraged. maximum number of workers limited in
Hand hygiene must be practised before and accordance with industry regulations published
after use of any sporting equipment. by BusinessVictoria.
• Swimming and aquatic facilities – in line with 3. Suspended projects will have to cease onsite
the closure of swimming pools, saunas and spas work completely for the duration of Stage 4
in the community, swimming pools and aquatic restrictions.
facilities on school grounds should close.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 11The above restrictions do not apply to regional cleaning and altered schedules with their
Victoria. cleaning provider. Schools will be advised of
additional funding for their school to undertake
If your project is being managed by the VSBA,
this cleaning.
they will have notified your builder about how your
project is classified, and the new safety measures • For cleaning and for personal hygiene product
that apply. queries, please contact
cleaning@edumail.vic.gov.au
Off-site planning of Melbourne projects in the
• In the event of a positive case of coronavirus
design stage can continue.
(COVID-19) at your school that requires an
School-led maintenance and upgrade projects at ‘Infectious clean’, the VSBA will arrange and pay
metropolitan Melbourne schools for the clean. Once advised of the need to clean,
the VSBA will contact the principal as soon as
With the Government seeking to limit workers
possible to make arrangements,
onsite, school-led upgrades and maintenance
works (including grounds and other routine • The clean is conducted in accordance with
maintenance) in metropolitan Melbourne should guidelines that have been developed with the
be stopped or restricted wherever possible. Department of Health and Human Services.
Work can, and should, continue where it is critical • To assist in the event of an ‘infectious clean’, it
for school safety. is recommended that on-site school staff:
If you have an ongoing school-led project currently o keep their desks neat, tidy and file important
underway at your school, please instruct your documents before they leave each day
builders/contractors that on-site works are to o take personal belongings home each day
cease immediately and remain suspended for the (e.g. jackets, shoes, hats, gloves and masks)
duration of the Stage 4 lockdown restrictions. o do not leave open food containers out in the
Where projects continue for safety reasons, open (e.g. tea bags, biscuits, fruit)
contractors should have High Risk COVIDSafe o keep personal cutlery in a sealed container
Plans and compliant with all the new measures and not leave it out on their workstation
published on the BusinessVictoria website. o take laptop, iPad home each day.
If the suspension of works creates any financial
hardship for the builders/contractors working 13. Personal hygiene products
in your school, please direct them to Business
• For the procurement of personal hygiene
Victoria’s advice on available support packages,
products (soap, toilet paper, hand sanitiser),
or the coronavirus hotline on 13 22 15 for phone
schools should actively monitor cleaning and
advice.
hygiene supplies and reorder in advance of
Maintenance and upgrade projects at needing access to additional materials.
regional schools • Schools should continue to use their usual
Construction projects across regional Victorian supplier: the State Purchase Contract supplier
schools can continue, observing the Stage 3 for office supplies, Complete Office Supplies
restrictions. (COS), or retail outlets in the first instance.
• If unavailable, schools can purchase products
Where possible during the remote and flexible
from their cleaning providers. If supplies
learning period, regional schools should continue
are unavailable, schools should contact the
their regular grounds and other maintenance,
Department at cleaning@edumail.vic.gov.au
including vermin and pest control.
who will connect schools with a supplier for
toilet paper and soap or directly supply schools
12. Cleaning with hand sanitiser.
• Extended and increased cleaning • See Access to cleaning supplies and services
arrangements have been introduced and will for advice on enhanced cleaning, information
continue. This involves progressive cleaning about personal hygiene products and
throughout the day to ensure that risks of Procurement tips for high demand items for
transmission are reduced for high-touch advice about procurement of consumables.
services.
• For schools under the metropolitan area-based 14. School buses for on-site students
model, the Victorian School Building Authority • In rural and regional Victoria, the School Bus
(VSBA) will ensure cleaning providers provide Program will continue to operate as normal.
the extended and increased cleaning.
• “School specials” operated by Public Transport
• For regional schools and metropolitan schools Victoria will continue to operate as normal.
that are yet to transition to the area-based
model, schools should arrange extended
12 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020• The Students with Disabilities Transport teaching program. These arrangements should
Program (SDTP) will continue to operate state- apply until further notice.
wide for students with a disability. • Staff using laptops and other portable devices
• Bus operators will ensure that high-touch should also be encouraged to take them home
surfaces are regularly disinfected (handrails at the end of the school day and over weekends.
and seating areas).
18. Work across multiple sites
15. School Breakfast Club Program • If practical, schools should seek staff (including
• The School Breakfast Club program is an contractors and employees of school councils)
essential service that should continue to be that do not work at other schools or school
delivered during Stage 3 and 4 restrictions by sites (i.e. multiple campuses) in addition to their
participating schools. school or limit the number of sites they work at
• In addition to providing the program for as far as possible.
students attending on-site, participating • If a school staff member is working at more
schools should consider options for distributing than one premises, for two or more employers:
provisions to students and families during o the staff member must provide a written
remote and flexible learning including: declaration using the form available here
o packaging up supplies in small parcels for to each employer of the work they are
students to take home performing and the details of the other
o packaging up supplies for collection by premises that they are performing work at
parents/carers from the school o schools must maintain a record of all staff
o providing ‘grab and go’ options such as fruit, who have disclosed that they are working at
fruit cups, mini milks or lunch bowls for any more than one site.
students who are attending school on site.
o facilitating contactless delivery of supplies 19. Contacts
to students’ homes (such as leaving supplies • Schools should contact their SEIL to discuss any
at the gate/front door). queries.
• Where collecting supplies, parents/carers • Local consultation should continue with staff,
should collect them at the same time as other Health and Safety Representatives and OHS
necessary supplies and do not require a permit Committees (if applicable). For further advice
to do so. and support phone 1300 074 715 or email
• For further information and support in safety@edumail.vic.gov.au
delivering the School Breakfast Clubs program • DET COVID-19 hotline: the Department’s
during this time, see the School Breakfast Clubs dedicated coronavirus (COVID-19) phone
program page. advice line on 1800 338 663 can address or
appropriately refer calls on all matters. This
16. Outside school hours care operates from 8am to 6pm seven days a week.
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) on school sites • Staff health and safety: Further advice and
in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria support in phone 1300 074 715 or email
can provide access to students consistent with the safety@edumail.vic.gov.au
access criteria for on-site supervision to school • International students (both onshore students
in their respective area as outlined earlier in this and offshore students engaging in remote
document. learning): international@edumail.vic.gov.au or
(03) 7022 1000
17. Access to devices • Finance: School Financial Management Support
Unit:
• For students who are learning from home and schools.finance.support@education.vic.gov.au or
do not have access to digital technologies, (03) 7022 2222
government schools should continue to loan
existing devices and support internet access to • Cleaning: cleaning@edumail.vic.gov.au
students where possible. • OSHC and other early childhood:
• Where students are learning on-site, where the Department’s dedicated coronavirus
necessary schools should ask that devices are (COVID-19) phone advice line during business
brought to school each day and then allow hours on 1800 338 663. This operates from 8am
students to take devices home each day. It to 6pm seven days a week.
is important that families understand that • Student transport:
devices remain the school’s property and that student.transport@edumail.vic.gov.au or
devices support the school’s learning and 7022 2247.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 13APPENDIX 1: HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVICE FOR ON-SITE SCHOOLING IN THE CONTEXT OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) 14 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020
Health and safety advice for on-site schooling
in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19)
The purpose of this guidance is to support schools providing on-site learning to provide safe
teaching and learning environments for staff and students.
An update from the Victorian Chief Health Officer
As Victoria’s Chief Health The vast majority of cases of coronavirus
Officer, and as a member of the (COVID-19) observed in schools involve the
Australian Health Protection student or staff member acquiring the virus
Principal Committee, the health, in the community, and these cases have
wellbeing and safety of students been well contained through reactive and
and staff remains front of mind. temporary closures.
As you know, we have seen an increase in the With significant testing in place, I am confident in
number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases across our ability to identify and respond appropriately
Victoria, in particular in metropolitan Melbourne, when a student or staff member tests positive to
with a concerning number of these having been coronavirus (COVID-19).
acquired through unknown transmission.
Reassuringly, evidence also continues to show that
In order to significantly reduce the movement of children are less impacted by the virus, they tend
more than one million students and their families to have milder symptoms and are less likely to
across metropolitan Melbourne and to help slow develop severe illness.
the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) across
I once again thank teachers, staff, students and
Victoria, I have advised temporarily returning to a
families for their incredible efforts during these
predominately remote learning model from Term 3.
challenging times, and with your support I am
For those continuing to receive on-site provision confident we can once again flatten the curve of
at mainstream and specialist schools, I want to the pandemic in Victoria.
reassure you that schools remain safe places for
staff and students when sensible steps as outlined
in this guidance are taken. I ask all Victorian
school communities to protect themselves and
others by following this advice.
The available data suggests that transmission in
school settings is uncommon, and the risk to staff
and students in both mainstream and specialist Adj Clin Prof Brett Sutton
settings remains low, with health and safety Victorian Chief Health Officer
measures in place.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 15Health and safety advice for on-site schooling
in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Actions for schools o of any age and have a compromised
immune system
All schools, including specialist schools, should
o Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and
consider a variety of strategies to support
are aged over 50 with chronic medical
physical distancing and good hygiene practices
conditions.
to reduce the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19)
transmission within the practical limitations of Such teachers and staff may be considered
a school environment. The following actions are vulnerable and should take additional care
to be considered, adapted and implemented as to protect themselves and consider working
necessary according to the education setting and from home.
the individual needs of the staff, students and the Schools should control visitor access on site and
wider school community. record contact details for all visitors.
Attendance on-site Hygiene
The most important action school communities Everyone can protect themselves and prevent the
can take to reduce the risk of transmission of spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by continuing
coronavirus (COVID-19), is to ensure that any to practise effective hand hygiene measures.
unwell staff, children and young people remain Enhanced hygiene measures should continue
at home. during on-site teaching and learning.
While the risk of transmission of the virus in • All staff, students and visitors to schools should
schools is low, staff or students most at risk of undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on
severe illness should continue to individually arrival to school, before and after eating, after
assess appropriateness for on-site attendance blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using
with support from their medical practitioner. the toilet. This should be directed or supervised
As the main risk of transmission of coronavirus by staff where required.
(COVID-19) in the school environment is between • Where soap and water are not readily available,
adults, it is important that visitors to school hand sanitiser should be accessible in every
grounds is controlled, and in restricted areas occupied room.
limited to essential school services and operations. • It is recommended that students do not drink
• All unwell staff and students must stay home. directly from drinking fountains at this time.
Instead they should bring their own water bottle
• Schools located in areas under ‘Stay at
for use (and refilling) at school.
Home’ restrictions should conduct daily
temperature checks of students on arrival • Sharing of food should not occur.
(Following Guidance for administering student • The Department of Education and Training
temperature screening) Students Using Mobile Phones policy remains in
• Parents/carers of students with complex place. Staff and students should be reminded to
medical needs (including those with clean their phone regularly.
compromised immune systems), should seek • Where relevant, ensure the highest hygiene
advice from the student’s medical practitioner practices amongst food handlers where these
to support decision-making about whether services are operating, as per the Department
on-site education is suitable, noting that this of Education and Training Safe Food
advice may change depending on the status Handling policy.
of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in • From 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August, a face
Victoria. This is in line with the DET Health Care covering will be mandatory whenever you leave
Needs policy. home, wherever you live in Victoria. See DHHS
• In line with other members of the community, advice on face coverings for information and
teachers and staff may be at greater risk of guidance on use of face masks in education
more serious illness if they are infected with settings. It is not compulsory for staff to wear
coronavirus (COVID-19) if they are: face coverings while teaching or caring for
o aged 70 years and over children, as they can interfere with their
ability to clearly communicate with children.
o aged 65 years and over and have chronic
While teaching or caring for children, Staff
medical conditions
can choose to wear masks face coverings if
they wish.
16 OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020Health and safety advice for on-site schooling
in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19)
School arrival and departure • Local school arrangements to reduce mixing
As the main risk of introducing coronavirus between students and staff from different
(COVID-19) to the school environment is from classes or year levels outside of the learning
adults, close proximity between adult members environment may continue to be of use as
of the school community should be avoided, precautionary measures and include:
particularly during school drop-off and pick-up. o staggering of break times and separating
different classes or year levels when
• Schools should encourage staff and parents outdoors
to observe physical distancing measures by
not congregating in areas inside or around o considering the order and pace in which
the school. classrooms are vacated
• Local school arrangements to practise physical o organising student traffic in corridors and
distancing and minimise interaction within the locker bays (e.g. dividing the corridor for
school and at school entry points may include: traffic direction).
o multiple entry and exit points or staggered • Where multiple staff are required in a
drop off and pick-up times to reduce the classroom, remind staff to maintain physical
number of adults congregating at the school distancing from each other as much
gate or outside classrooms as practical.
o signs at the school gate to encourage Considerations for offices and staff
1.5 metres physical distancing
facilities
between adults
As the greatest risk of transmission of coronavirus
o if additional space is required to support
(COVID-19) in the school environment is between
parents to physically distance at drop
adults, close proximity between staff should be
off and pick up, allowing parents to enter
avoided where possible and especially in offices
school grounds for a short period around
and staff rooms.
these times.
• Encourage non-contact greetings. • Workstations should be spaced out as much
as possible, and the number of staff in offices
Considerations for teaching and limited. This might mean re-locating staff to
learning environments other spaces (e.g. library or unused classrooms).
Density restrictions of one person per 4m2 in • In line with other workplaces across Victoria,
classrooms and corridors, and maintaining a remind staff to maintain physical distance
physical distance of 1.5 metres between students from each other as much as possible in the
during classroom activities will not always be reception, staff room and offices.
practical in education settings. Physical distancing
is most important between adults.
Reducing mixing between different cohorts
(either classes or year levels) is recommended
as a precautionary measure to minimise risk of
spread of transmission and aid containment in
the rare event of a confirmed case of coronavirus
(COVID-19) on site.
• Promote fresh air flow indoors and maximise
use of outdoor learning areas or environments
with enhanced ventilation where possible and
as practical depending on weather conditions.
• Mixing of staff and students between rooms
should be avoided where possible.
OPERATIONS GUIDE Victorian Government Schools Term 3 2020 17You can also read
