About 50 SA schools or childcare sites still without RATs as school year starts

About 50 schools or childcare sites are still awaiting their rapid antigen tests as South Australian children head back to school today.

Some 50 schools and childcare centres are yet to receive deliveries of rapid antigen tests, Premier Steven Marshall said on Wednesday.

Students have begun lessons and schools were due to have the RATs to abide by new state government rules

“About 1400 of the 1450 schools and preschools have had their deliveries,” Mr Marshall said.

“The others will be dealt with today.”

From Wednesday through to the end of next week, students in reception and years 1, 7, 8 and 12 have started the term on their school campus.

Years 2-6 and 9-11 – or 60 per cent of students – have begun the year online.

Under new protocols at schools, it is “strongly recommended” early childhood workers pass three RATs a week.

Workers in a school or childcare centre who are a “classroom contact” must pass a daily RAT for seven days.

The RATs were promised free to government and private providers.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said there were plenty of RATs in the health and education system.

“I don’t think there’ll be any problem,” Professor Spurrier said.

Australian Education Union SA president Andrew Gohl said the delays in RATs and supply of N95 masks was concerning.

“Things aren’t quite in place at the moment,” he said.

Hugh, 8, will be learning from home while his sister, Harper, 5, starts reception at Keithcote Farm Primary. Picture: Keryn Stevens

SA Primary Principals Association president Angela Falkenberg said schools’ focus was mainly on welcoming new students and ensuring remote learning was working.

At least 2000 South Australian families have been given internet assistance for their children.

SIM cards and internet dongles provided by the Education Department aim to ensure these students aren’t left behind from day one.

The department has distributed more than 900 laptops or tablets to disadvantaged or remote students.

“Access to digital devices – during periods of remote learning and through the rest of the year – is critical to student’s learning,” Education Minister John Gardner said on Tuesday.

Mr Gardner said the Education Department had several hundred more devices available and he expected more families to request help.

Teachers were more experienced and better prepared to host remote learning than earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Gardner said.

“Significant curriculum resources have been developed by the Education Department over the past two years to support teachers,” he said.

“We have the Our Learning SA website, which is particularly useful for students whose classmates might be in face-to-face learning at school while they are isolating.

“So, I have a high level of confidence that children and young people across SA will get excellent support from their schools.”

Mr Gardner said the government was committed to face-to-face lessons for all year levels from Monday February 14 – with the staggered start having achieved the objective of lowering the Covid-19 peak.

Golden Grove mum Nadine de Bono said her children Harper, 5, and Hugh, 8, were eager for term to start at their school, Keithcote Farm Primary.

“Harper’s really ready for reception, she’s been wearing her uniform and carrying her school bag around,” Ms De Bono said.

“Hugh’s a bit disappointed he won’t see all his year 3 mates on day one, but he knows they’re all in the same position and he’s done online before so he’s used to it.”

In a welcome change, students from almost all of SA can take fruit to school following the successful campaign against fruit fly.

Restrictions remain for homes in Ridleyton and around Pike River and Renmark West in the Riverland but have been lifted elsewhere.

“I encourage parents and students to once again fill lunch boxes with a range of fresh fruit and vegetables,” Primary Industries Minister David Basham said.