Parents of Prep students in 2021 barred from classrooms amid COVID-19

Parents of Prep students at some schools have been devastated to learn they won’t be permitted to walk their child into the classroom on their first day at school next year, thanks to a decision made by the schools themselves.

Preppies will be forced to take themselves into class on their first day of school next year, with parents told COVID-19 health advice has barred them from the tradition of settling in their children.

The Courier-Mail canvassed more than a dozen schools on their plans for students starting Prep in 2021, and while 11 were yet to decide, at least two have ruled out having parents in classrooms.

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Thornlands State School and Wellers Hill State School have already made the call to keep out parents on day one – January 27, 2021 – in a move other schools are expected to follow.

Parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson warned the harsh measure could add to the stress children already face on the first day of school.

A Wellers Hill State School parent said they were told they could drop their child nearby the classroom building at a designated “kiss and go” spot, while Thornlands parents were told they could not go on to school grounds.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Catholic Education said it would continue to adjust guidelines across its 144 schools as health advice changed, but it was open to offering a COVIDSafe approach to parents accompanying their Prep students on day one.

Thornlands State School told parents in a letter that Prep students and their parents would be greeted at the closest gate by their teacher and teacher aide.

The school offered to provide a photo of children settling into class and to arrange “short, staggered visits … at a designated time during the first couple of weeks of the school year”.

An Education Department spokesman said a small group of Thornlands parents raised the issue and that the principal told parents if the health advice changed, so would the school’s approach.

But Dr Coulson encouraged schools to develop “creative strategies to engage families in routines to help students settle school securely and safely”.

“The first day of school is potentially stressful and research tells us clearly that during times of stress, support must increase,” he said.

Opposition education spokesman Jarrod Bleijie said it beggared belief that tens of thousands of people could pack into a football stadium, but parents could not walk their kids into school.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the LNP were the last people Queenslanders should take health advice from.

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before the 2021 school year starts,” she said.

“But ultimately it is principals, following the health advice, who are best placed to decide.”

Current Education Department guidelines stipulate that schools should encourage staff, parents and other adult visitors to practise physical distancing and minimise the interaction between students and adults.

Mother-of-two Emma O’Connor, of Mt Gravatt in Brisbane, said she would be disappointed if she couldn’t walk her youngest child Elise, 4, into the classroom.

“It’s such an important milestone … for the child and the parent as well,” she said.