COVID-19 – what schools need to know

Traffic lights

New Zealand is now at Red traffic light setting. The traffic lights (COVID-19 Protection Framework) protect Aotearoa New Zealand from COVID-19, while allowing people with My Vaccine Pass more freedoms.

What the framework means for schools

Green

Schools and kura are open for on-site learning, for all students

• There are some COVID-19 cases in the community and sporadic imported cases.
• Community transmission will be limited, and COVID-19 hospitalisations will be at a manageable level.
• The health system will be ready to respond, including primary care, public health, and hospitals.

Schools are prohibited from requiring students to be vaccinated to access education. This includes parents, caregivers and whānau supporting students and their learning.

How you can operate at Green

Orange

Schools and kura are open for on site learning, for all students

• There will be increasing community transmission that is putting pressure on our health system.
• The whole of health system will focus its resources, but can continue to manage primary care, public health, and hospitals.
• There may also be an increasing risk for at-risk people.

Schools are prohibited from requiring students to be vaccinated to access education. This includes parents, caregivers and whānau supporting students and their learning.

How you can operate at Orange

Red

Schools and kura are open for on site learning, for all students

• Action will need to be taken to protect both at-risk people and protect our health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations.

Schools are prohibited from requiring students to be vaccinated to access education. This includes parents, caregivers and whānau supporting students and their learning.

How you can operate at Red

Extracted from Ministry of Education COVID-19 Protection Framework for schools and kura

• COVID-19 information for parents and whānau 
• Advice for early learning services
• Advice for schools/kura
• COVID-19 in your school or early learning service
• Vaccinations: information for schools, kura and early learning services
• Workforce Wellbeing Package
• Face coverings guidance
• Border exceptions for teachers
• Advice for schools with international students
• COVID-19 and wellbeing
• Advice for Ministry Suppliers
• Targeted support for at-risk learners
• Video conferencing options and guidance for early learning services, schools and kura
• Key contacts
• COVID-19: Contact tracing locations of interest
  • Live map

Guidance – all in one place

• Advice for people with Covid-19
• Contact tracing in schools, kura and early learning centres
• Distance learning
• Further information
  
  

Ministry of Education Bulletins

• 23 March 2022 
  • Overview of the key changes including vaccination mandates; My Vaccine Pass; changes to red, orange and green settings;
  • Guidance on mandatory vaccination requirements ending, effective 11.59pm Monday 4 April
• 15 February 2022
  • Phase 2 of the COVID Protection Framework – guidelines
  • Phase 2 for School Boarding Hostels
  • Close Contact Exemption Scheme
  • Purchasing rapid antigen tests (RATs)
  • Phase 2 update to contact tracing
  • Face masks – updated information
  • March Roll Returns: due no later than 8 March
• 10 February 2022
  • Close contact exemption
  • Guidance for hybrid teaching and learning
  • Big Boost – letter template
  • Consultations open:
    • Physical Restraint
    • Enrolling international fee-paying students under Year 9
• 8 February 2022
  • Supply of masks to schools
  • Template letter: Mandatory vaccine booster requirements for staff of schools
  • Class border exception changes: to date we have not been successful in gaining eligibility for independent school teachers to be included in this border exception for 300 teachers
  • 2021 Financial Reporting: please note that under the Education and Training Act 2020 Schedule 7 private schools are required to provide the Secretary of Education with copies of annual financial reports and related audit reports. These should be sent to school.finances@education.govt.nz
• 3 February 2022
  • With careful planning, education outside the classroom (EOTC) activities can go ahead at Red
  • Further guidance on EOTC under the traffic light framework.
• 1 February 2022
  • Update on mask exemptions
  • Mask use when playing sport
  • Managing cases of COVID-19 in schools
  • Risk assessment template and scenario planning for a COVID-19 outbreak
  • Pandemic preparedness – preparing for staffing absences.
• 31 January 2022
  • How to order masks

• 27 January 2022
  • Omicron in the community: What this means for you
  • Wearing masks in school
  • What to do if there is a case of COVID-19 in your school
  • Ask an expert: COVID-19 immunisation for 5 to 11-year-olds
  • Advice for people with COVID-19
  • Reminder: Alert Level 3 testing requirements no longer apply
  • Care in the community: Financial help to buy food

• 25 Jaunuary 2022
  • Preparing for Omicron
  • Key health measures under the framework
  • Reviewing your COVID-19 plan
  • Plan for more disruption
  • Supporting children to return onsite
  • Unvaccinated students, parents and caregivers
  • Education outside the classroom: Offsite options
  • Misinformation, disinformation and abuse
  • School hostels
  • Care in the community
  • Public Health Order requiring mandatory booster doses
  • Testing
  • Teaching and learning
  • Letter template for parents and whānau
•  23 January 2022
  • COVID-19 Protection Framework resources for schools and kura – Education in New Zealand

• 9 December
  • Clarification on education outside the classroom (EOTC)
  • Reminder: Managing staff impacted by the vaccination requirement
• 7 December
  • Changes to the Employment Relations Act around vaccinations
  • Vaccinations for children aged five to 11-years-old
  • Insurance impacts of non-vaccination
  • Out-of-school care and recreation and school holiday programmes
  • Update on ventilation
  • COVID-19 resource toolkit 
  • Fake ID cards claiming diplomatic immunity from vaccination
• 2 December
  • Update: Information about events, activities and gatherings
  • My Vaccine Pass and students who have just turned 12
  • Required vaccinations for courier drivers and postal workers

Healthline

• Free health advice and information, anytime – 0800 611 116

Need to talk?

• To connect with a professional counsellor free call or text 1737