Information supplied from Ministry of Education on 7 September 2021.
Early Learning Bulletin 7 September 2021 |
Message from the Secretary for EducationKia ora anō, As you are aware, New Zealand, beyond the northern and southern boundaries of Auckland is moving to Alert Level 2 commencing from 11:59pm tonight, Tuesday 7 September, while Auckland remains in Alert Level 4 until at least 11:59pm Tuesday 14 September. Early learning services outside of Auckland can open from tomorrow, Wednesday 8 September, under Alert Level 2 guidelines. I appreciate that some services may need to use Wednesday to prepare for their services to reopen on Thursday 9 September and this will be funded if you need to do so. I would like to acknowledge early learning services in Auckland, still at Level 4, and thank you for your compliance with Level 4 requirements, ultimately enabling the rest of the country to return to less restrictive settings. For those that have been open under Alert Level 3, you should continue to provide that service to your Alert Level 3 families tomorrow. You can open up to your remaining whānau under Alert Level 2 guidelines from tomorrow as well, if your service is ready. The Ministry has completed a review of the Alert Level 2 Public Health Response Order to ensure all aspects of the order are reflected in our guidance. This Bulletin provides you with links to all those guidance documents. The Government has maintained a precautionary approach to COVID-19 throughout their response and moving most of New Zealand to Alert Level 2 is possible because there are no cases in the community outside of Auckland. High volumes of testing for COVID-19 in the community remains very important to support decisions on Alert Levels, so please do get tested, no matter where in the country you are if you have any symptoms. Ngā mihi |
Recently updated advice for early learning services: |
In today’s bulletin:
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Alert Level 2 guidance materialThe Ministry has completed a review of the Alert Level 2 Public Health Response Order and updated all of our guidance material, which is now available online. At Alert Level 2 there is low risk of community transmission and early learning services are open for all tamariki. The table linked below summarises the Alert Level 2 requirements and recommendations for early learning services. Alert Level 2 requirements summary table [DOCX, 19KB] We have also provided an Alert Level 2 checklist for licensed services and playgroups and prepared up to date Alert Level 2 guidance material: Alert Level 2 checklist for licensed services [DOCX, 793KB] Finally, you may like to use this letter template as a way to communicate to your families about Alert Level 2. |
Face coverings in early learning environmentsWe appreciate that there continue to be a lot of questions about the use of face coverings in early learning environments. Public health recommend that the focus for children under six is on getting children to cough and sneeze into their elbow, and wash and dry hands / hand hygiene. Face coverings are not required in early learning services and early learning services are not expected to provide face coverings for children or staff. It remains an option for those individuals, staff and whānau. |
Funding arrangements for early learning services at Alert Level 2We recognise that you will be working with your parents, whānau and community to support safe participation in your service. We also recognise that after a move from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 that some children will be slow to return. |
Supporting staff at Alert Level 2At Alert Level 2, early learning services are open for all children and staff, but must ensure additional public health control measures are in place to prevent the spread of disease and to support contact tracing. Disclosure of vaccination status |