Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery has announced the details of the Phase 3 operating arrangements for Western Australian public schools which come into effect today (June 8).
As part of the Phase 3 operating guidelines - which are in line with the latest health advice - restrictions have been lifted to allow parents, carers and visitors inside schools for meetings and to drop off and pick up students, subject to physical distancing and hygiene measures.
Events and activities such as assemblies, excursions, interschool activities, school choirs and examinations can now resume providing schools abide by a limit of 100 people in indoor settings and 300 people in outdoor areas.
School camps will now be permitted for up to 100 people, with schools required to follow the WA Department of Education's excursion policies and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice. Additional guidelines have been developed to provide schools with further information relating to camps.
Sports training, games and interschool competitions will now also recommence with schools following the same guidelines as the community for the number of people per indoor and outdoor space.
In-term swimming classes can immediately recommence for students with physical distancing and good hygiene practices applying.
Students in secondary years are also able to get back to their work placements as long as schools make sure the employers are complying with WA COVID-19 Health Guidelines.
Canteens can now provide a dine-in service for up to 100 people, and school libraries can allow 100 people in a shared space or up to 300 people if the facility includes multiple divided spaces.
The AHPPC is currently reviewing its advice in regards to the risk management for boarding schools and residential colleges.
It is expected that schools continue to follow good personal hygiene practices and additional cleaning regimes.
High frequency cleaning will continue throughout the school day at all WA public schools.
As per the WA COVID-19 Roadmap, all school activities will be reviewed again in preparation for Phase 4.
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"I am pleased that we are able to lift some of the restrictions that still applied to Western Australia's 800 plus public schools.
"Thanks to the hard work and diligence of school staff, parents and students, we're able to make these changes and get schools closer to their usual operations.
"Parents and carers play a big part in school communities and it's great that schools will be able to welcome them back on site to meet with staff and attend assemblies and events, in line with physical distancing guidelines.
"I know that students have been missing out on some of the social aspects of their schooling such as camps, excursions and being part of a sporting team, so I'm sure they will welcome the news that these will now be permitted."
