WA parents have been told to keep students at home from next week as teachers prepare to moving learning online for Term 2 in response to COVID-19.
Teaching in WA's public schools will officially end on Friday, April 3, a week earlier than the official school calendar.
In an announcement on Thursday, Premier Mark McGowan said the government felt it was the right time to make the next step.
"I know the situation around our public schools has been causing angst for parents, teachers, staff and students," he said.
"I understand that it may be confusing, but we've kept them open, consistent with the best medical advice at hand through the National Cabinet process.
"Firstly, from Monday, March 30, we will now encourage parents to keep children at home if they can, and access the online learning resources we have made available.
"However, all children who do attend public schools will continue to be taught.
"Where parents need children to attend school to enable them to maintain employment, and for those children in vulnerable families, like children living with grandparents, they are encouraged to continue to attend school."
Mr McGowan said arrangements would be in place for schools to supervise children who needed to attend from April 6 to 9 where their parents were involved in essential services.
"Teachers and education assistants will now use this time to plan and prepare for a new way of teaching from the start of Term 2, with work continuing through the school holidays," the premier said.
"It is crucial for us to strike the right balance between keeping the community safe, allowing essential services to continue and provide a quality education to our students in this difficult time.
"I want to reassure parents that our schools are well prepared to continue to provide education for their children."
He said plans for the delivery of public education in Term 2 will be released as soon as possible.
