Due to current fire alerts and warnings, we ask that you make safe decisions regarding your trip to and from our service.
Please take care and keep up to date through the or the app.
Supporting families
How early childhood education and care services and outside school hours care services can communicate and support families during an emergency or natural disasters, such as bushfires, floods and storms.
Communication with families
If your service or community has been or will be impacted, it is important to keep families informed about your service’s circumstances. The below templates can be used to support your communications, if required.
Fire emergencies
Safe travels
Service closure
Dear parents and carers
Due to potential impacts of fires, our ECEC service will be non-operational from [date] to [date].
We request you do not send your children during this time.
We are expected to resume operations on [date] unless we provide further updates.
[Optional messaging when preparing for fires]
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has asked that families prepare, including having an emergency kit with essential items including medications, documents, pet food and family photos ready.
Please stay safe, follow your
and if you have any doubts about your ability to cope, you should plan to leave early, well before a fire reaches your area and well before you are under threat.
Leaving early is always your safest option.
Download the app to stay across the latest warnings and information.
For more information, visit
Look out for text messages from fire authorities. A ‘Watch Zone’ can be set up to monitor a local area.
Call the RFS on 1800 679 737.
In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
As always, the safety of children and staff in our service remains our highest priority.
Kind regards
[Director name]
Service reopening
Dear parents and carers
We are pleased to inform you that our service will recommence operations from [date].
From this date, you may send your children back to our service as per their enrolled days. [Optional] If your child requires a variation to their enrolled days, please contact us via [service phone number].
Download the app to stay across the latest warnings and information.
For more information, visit or call the RFS on 1800 679 737.
As always, the safety of children and staff in our service remains our highest priority.
We look forward to welcoming you and your children back into our service.
Kind regards
[Director name]
Social media
Suggested captions
- If the service is closed: Due to potential impacts of fires, our service will be closed from [date] until [date]. For the safety of children and staff, please do not send your children to our service during this period. We expect to reopen on [date] unless we provide further updates.
- If the service is open: Our service is open. Please take care travelling to our service. Download the Hazards Near Me App to stay across the latest warnings and information.
Floods and storms
Safe travels
Due to predicted severe weather, we ask that you make safe decisions regarding your trip to and from our service.
Please take care and keep up to date through the , and websites.
Service closure
Dear parents and carers
Due to potential impacts severe weather, including a heightened risk of flooding, our ECEC service will be non-operational from [date] to [date].
We request you do not send your children during this time.
We are expected to resume operations on [date] unless we provide further updates.
[Optional preparing for floods and storms]
The NSW SES has asked that families prepare their homes by putting away loose items around their home, trimming trees aways from properties and not parking vehicles under trees or powerlines.
Prepare an emergency kit with essential items including medications, documents, pet food and family photos.
Please stay safe around flooding and road closures. Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in flood water, and any avoid unnecessary travel. Floodwater may be deeper or faster flowing than it appears and can contain hidden debris.
Download the to stay across the latest warnings and information.
For more information, visit .
Call the NSW SES on 132 500 if you need emergency assistance in floods and storms. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
As always, the safety of children and staff in our service remains our highest priority.
Kind regards
[Director name]
Service reopening
Dear parents and carers
We are pleased to inform you that our service will recommence operations from [date].
From this date, you may send your children back to our service as per their enrolled days. [Optional] If your child requires a variation to their enrolled days, please contact us via [service phone number].
[Optional]
Please stay safe around flooding and road closures. Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in flood water, and any avoid unnecessary travel. Floodwater may be deeper or faster flowing than it appears and can contain hidden debris.
Download the to stay across the latest warnings and information.
For more information, visit .
Call the NSW SES on 132 500 if you need emergency assistance in floods and storms. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
As always, the safety of children and staff in our service remains our highest priority.
We look forward to welcoming you and your children back into our service.
Kind regards
[Director name]
Social media
Suggested captions:
- If the service is closed: Due to local weather conditions, our service will be closed from [date] until [date]. For the safety of children and staff, please do not send your children to our service during this period. We expect to reopen on [date] unless we provide further updates.
- If the service is open: Our service is open. Please take care travelling to our service and check Live Traffic NSW to plan a safe journey:
Families finding alternative education and care
For families seeking alternative care due to you reducing or temporarily ceasing operations:
Contact the Information and Enquiries team for individual advice and support by calling 1800 619 113 or emailing ececd@det.nsw.edu.au.
Access the to search for early childhood education and care services.
Learning from home resources
- Early childhood guided learning packages: families can access the easy-to-use timetabled activities to support continuity of learning for children who are unable to attend their service