The below templates can be used as a guide for establishing communication channels and expectations when your school is temporarily unable to teach students face-to-face.

The below are guides only and should be personalised to meet the needs of your school community.

Emails, newsletters or school website

Dear parents and carers

Thank you for your support during these challenging times. As you are aware, (insert the reason for school closure). For this reason, we are unable to continue with face-to-face teaching for (insert time period).

We understand that this is an unsettling and difficult time for many people in our school community. We hope to make the transition to learning from home as easy as possible.

How should parents and carers communicate with the school?

Our main channel of communication with parents and carers will be (insert preferred channel e.g. email, digital learning platforms, school website, social media, phone). Please check this regularly for updates. We encourage you to check this platform at least twice a day.

How will students continue their learning at home?

Students will receive work via (insert method of distributing student work). We ask that students, parents and carers communicate with their teacher/s via (insert preferred method) to receive support with learning.

Who should we contact if we are have questions about technology?

Please contact (insert contact and communication method). If you need help sourcing or accessing technology, please contact (insert contact).

How can we continue to access other school support services?

If you need any school support services during this time, please contact the relevant staff members via (insert preferred contact method).

• Learning support:
• Student counselling support:
  
• Librarian:
• Community Liaison Officer:
• Aboriginal Education Officer:
  
• Translation services:

We will make sure to keep you updated. In the meantime you can visit the learning from home website to access further information and resources.

Kind regards
(Insert principal’s signature block)

Social media or SkoolBag notifications

Due to (insert reason for school closure), we are unable to teach face-to-face from (insert date) and will commence learning from home from (insert start date).

We have sent detailed information about this via (email/newsletter etc.) to all parents and carers. If you have not received this information please contact (insert contact) via (insert contact method). We will keep you updated with information as it becomes available. Thank you to our wonderful school community for your support during this challenging time.

Reporting to parents and carers

Ongoing communication between classroom teachers and parents/carers is encouraged. How schools communicate with and report to parents and carers on student learning and progress is a school-based decision aligned to department policy.

Under the Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12 policy (amended interim policy from Term 4 2020) schools should provide parents/carers with formal and informal opportunities to receive information about and discuss their child's learning throughout the school year (1.3.1).

Some examples of reporting to parents and carers during learning from home include:

• Informal conversations
• 3-way conversations (student, parent/carer and teacher)
• Virtual celebratory assemblies, postcards home, school newsletters
• Online platforms e.g. SEE-SAW, individual messages
• Comments in school reports.
  
  

Translating documents

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