The NSW Department of Education confirmed more than 270 schools and 300 childcare centres across the state have closed since lockdown ended because of new cases.

Shortly after lockdown lifted in October, Bletchington Public School and Bowen Public School in Orange closed after their principals confirmed a member of the school community had tested positive for COVID-19.

The Hunter New England region experienced a rise in cases throughout lockdown case numbers which remained steady when restrictions lifted.

In the first week of November several Hunter schools had a delayed start to the week after COVID-19 exposures forced them to close for cleaning.

Regions with some of the highest vaccination rates of residents aged 15 years and over are grappling with COVID-19 cases in schools and kindergartens where students are not yet eligible for a vaccine.

On the Far South Coast, Pambula Public School in the Bega Valley shire closed on Monday, November 8 after a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19.

Principal Leah Martin made the announcement to parents and staff on Sunday afternoon and said the school would be non-operational with immediate effect to allow time for contact tracing and cleaning.

All staff and students were asked to self-isolate until receiving further advice and get tested if feeling unwell.

It happened the same week two Nowra primary schools reopened after being closed for two days due to cases in the school community.

In the Riverina region, three Wagga Wagga primary schools were closed within the space of a week due to COVID-19 cases in the school community.

Holy Trinity Primary School, Henschke Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School students parents and teachers were forced into isolation as the sites underwent deep cleaning.

Wagga Wagga recorded six new COVID-19 cases on November 11, the same day the Holy Trinity and Henschke primary schools announced they would close.