Operating your centre at Level 2
Public Health officials have advised that all early learning services are safe to be open at Alert Level 2 if appropriate public health measures are put in place. In an early learning environment, it is not practical to have a physical distance between children and adults. Young children require a lot of physical support and it is not possible to explain or maintain a physical distance between young children. This means good hygiene practices are even more important.
Early learning services are open to everyone, and all children may attend.
Early learning services continue to remain open. At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained but there is still risk of community transmission. It is safe for children and staff to attend early learning as there will be appropriate measures in place, including for children and staff vulnerable to severe illness.
Learning will be onsite with distance learning offered in some circumstances.
Distance learning should be provided for those required to self-isolate, those individuals who health authorities have asked to stay away while waiting for a test result, or those choosing to remain at home because they are vulnerable to illness.
Services are not classified as gatherings and a range of events and activities can go ahead.
For most day to day activities at services, the rules for gatherings do not apply. Under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Order, services are exempted from physical distancing requirements when people are there to receive, provide, or support education services. However as soon as your event or activity brings people onsite who are not there for education purposes, including parents and caregivers, then the rules for gatherings do apply.
Services will close for cleaning and contact tracing if there is a confirmed case who was infectious when at the service.
Your Director of Education will work closely with you and health authorities should this occur. Please contact your Ministry regional office if you hear of a confirmed case in your early learning community but haven’t been advised about it by health officials.
Face coverings are not required.
This includes vans provided to transport children and staff. Vans can be used to transport all children/tamariki, the van should be cleaned daily. Physical distancing of 1m between all adults involved in the pick-up/drop off is encouraged. Anyone who chooses to wear a face covering in any setting should be supported to do so.
Sick people must stay at home.
They should seek medical advice if they have COVID-like symptoms and get tested if advised to do so. If that person displays relevant symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate.
You must have a contact tracing system in place.
This includes displaying QR code posters at your entrances, attendance register and visitor register.
Fundamental public health measures continue to apply at every alert level:
- Physical distancing for adults (not touching and not breathing on each other at Alert Level 2)
- Hand hygiene
- Cough and sneeze etiquette
- Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces.
Think and plan carefully before you go ahead with any activity that brings a large number of children together and/or spectators are involved.
Some events may need to be cancelled or postponed when we are at Alert Level 2.
It is important that parents fully support this approach by doing their bit - keeping children home if they are unwell and seeking medical advice about whether a child may need to be tested; and ensuring great hygiene practices at all times.
Supporting staff at Alert Level 2
At Alert Level 2 it is safe for all children and staff to attend early learning. There will be appropriate precautions in place. Unless required to self-isolate on public health advice, all staff are able to attend work on-site, but are asked to do so in a safe and conscientious way.
Staff continue to have access to their usual employment agreement entitlements, including the child contact/non-contact provisions of those agreements. Staff must stay at home if they are sick with COVID-19, are unwell generally, or are caring for a dependant who is sick with COVID-19.
People at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. those with underlying medical conditions, especially if not well-controlled) can also safely work on-site. You should talk to each employee in this situation and agree the safety provisions that will apply on-site.
Risk Assessment
We have put together a risk assessment tool that you can use to ensure you have covered everything off for kaiako, tamariki and whānau while operating during Level 2.
Level 2 centre risk planning
You may want to use the tool above to revisit your plan and make any necessary changes. You should involve staff in the review of the plan to help you assess risks and identify solutions. All staff should be familiar with the plan.
Masks at Level 2
Do children need to wear face coverings at early learning services at Alert Level 2?
No. Public Health officials have advised that children under the age of 6 should not wear face coverings. Other public health control measures will be in place including children and staff staying home if they are sick, contact tracing, and hygiene requirements.
Do teachers need to wear face coverings at early learning services and schools at Alert Level 2?
No. Teachers do not need to wear face coverings at Alert Level 2. Other public health measures will be in place including children and staff staying home if they are sick, contact tracing, and hygiene requirements.
Do children and young people need to wear face coverings on school transport, or transport provided by early learning services, at Alert Level 2?
No. Children and young people are not required to wear face coverings wrapped around the nose and mouth on school transport or early learning service transport. This includes buses or vans chartered or used by schools or early learning services to carry children, students and staff. Good hygiene measures, contact tracing and staying away if sick will remain in place.
Do all children and young people need to wear face coverings on public transport at Alert Level 2?
No. Public Health officials have advised that children under the age of 6 should not wear face coverings.
Children under 12 years of age are not required to wear face coverings on public transport at Alert Level 2.
Children aged 12 and over are required to wear face coverings at Alert Level 2 (as are the majority of New Zealanders).
Who is exempted from wearing face coverings on public transport at Alert Level 2?
Children under 12 years of age are not required to wear face coverings on public transport at Alert Level 2.
For people with a physical or mental health illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a face covering unsuitable, they will be exempted from having to wear a face covering on public transport.
Further information on face coverings is available on the covid19.govt.nz website.
More information
The Ministry of Education have guidance for early learning services covering all Alert Levels. This is available here.