Covid outbreaks among students unlikely to shut NSW schools but staff shortages could

State's teachers union says significant disruption to staffing may cause closures as parent group says it will launch legal action over rules preventing pandemic leave

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Large-scale Covid-19 outbreaks among students are unlikely to lead to school closures when classes resume in New South Wales, with the state government determined to shut down schools only in the case of key staff shortages.

However a group of concerned parents and teachers says it will take legal action against the NSW Department of Education, claiming it has prevented schools from granting families leave to keep their children at home if they are worried about Covid infection.