NSW Primary Principals Association president Phil Seymour would have liked Premier Gladys Berejiklian to have been more "direct" in telling parents to keep their children at home.
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But he nevertheless hopes parents heed the message and keep their children at home so teachers and schools could properly prepare for online learning.
NSW, parents have been encouraged to keep their children at home from Tuesday.
"Because nearly 30 per cent of children are already being kept out of school, for practical reasons NSW is encouraging parents to keep their children at home," Ms Berejiklian said.
"This will ensure there is only one unit of work, whether the student is at home or at school.
"No child will be turned away from school."
Mr Seymour said the more children who stay home, the better.
"We've got 40 per cent of kids away today across the state on average. I think tomorrow will be a bigger number. I think we had to come to this," he said.
"The [NSWPPA] have been saying this is the best thing to do because we have to look after our staff as well as look after our kids."
Mr Seymour said keeping as many students as possible from schools would help and provide educators with more time to get online learning tools set up.
"It will also allow for some teachers who may be a bit unwell, to work from home," he said.
"We are in a critical time in this. We have to work together. If you are able to keep your children at home, do so and give us the time and we will get our work together so that you will be able to go online or get hard copy work from the school so you can do the work with your children at home."
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