Schools set to close despite education department saying ‘no child will be turned away’

Several schools will close on Friday as teachers strike, despite the Education Department vowing children won’t be turned away.

Multiple schools have announced they will close on Friday ahead of a planned teacher strike, despite the Education Department making assurances students would not be turned away.

Parents across the state will be left to make alternative plans as thousands of teachers are expected to walk off the job, leaving schools closed, with limited out of school hours care options.

Stirling North Primary School in Port Augusta announced in a letter to parents on Tuesday it would close on the day of the strike.

“Stirling North Primary School will be closed … due to a vote for industrial action by members of the Australian Education Union at this site,” principal Adam Wilson wrote.

“The education director has approved the closure on that grounds that insufficient staff will be on duty to enable me, as principal, to ensure that adequate standards of student safety and welfare can be provided.”

The letter detailed that “normal education” would recommence at the site the next Monday.

Walkerville Primary School has also informed its parents it will not be open.

7NEWS reported the school had only 45 out of school hours care places available for students.

The school closures come despite the Education Department issuing a statement it would provide support so students can attend schools.

Schools and preschools are in the process of “getting in touch with their parent communities to advise what services will be available”, a spokeswoman said.

“Each school will have a staff member on site, so no child is turned away if they are dropped off unexpectedly,” she said.

“In the event a parent or carer is really stuck, we encourage them to contact their school to work through options to support them.”

Education Minister Blair Boyer. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Education Minister Blair Boyer also said in parliament on Tuesday schools “will not turn anybody away” on the day of the strike, with many running a “reduced program more akin to an out of hours care”.

He said information into “who will be striking and where” will be made available to the department on Wednesday, so parents can be notified of the extent of the disruption to their child’s school.

“Regardless of what we learn in the next 24 hours when we have more specific data from each of the individual sites we will not turn people away on Friday,” Mr Boyer said.

The AEU commenced meetings with the government on Tuesday to come to an agreement before the planned strike action.

Industrial Relations Minister Kyam Maher said negotiations were “ongoing” but declined to provide an update on the meetings.

“One thing we won’t do is give a running commentary on every meeting that occurs,” he said.