Students in New South Wales (NSW) will be allowed back in the classroom one week earlier than expected. The staggered return of students will begin on Oct. 18 with Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 12 students. Year 2, 6, and 11 students return on Oct. 25 followed by the remaining year levels on Nov. 1. Areas of regional NSW where stay-at-home orders have already lifted will commence face-to-face learning from the first day of Term four, Oct. 5. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state’s return-to-school plan had always been tied to community vaccination rates, which have risen faster than expected. “Managing a return in a school system the size of NSW’s is not a small task,” Berejiklian said. “Keeping the staged approach, but moving it all one week earlier, allows schools to shift their plans forward and still provides time for staff and eligible students to get vaccinated.” NSW …