The new reality is learning packs, laptops and lessons completed at home with teachers working remotely to support their students.

At Lumen Christi Primary School in Delacombe, families were given times to attend a drive-through to pick up learning packs for their children on Tuesday.

Principal Murray McDonald greeted families (from a social distance) as they pulled in to the drive-through lane while classroom teachers handed over learning packs and Easter eggs to students in the cars.

"We've prepared some learning support material for families so parents were allocated time to come, they drive through, stay in the car, we deliver the packs and off they go," he said.

Teachers had made packs for around 200 families of students from foundation to grade six to provide learning material and suggestions for the first weeks of term.

The packs, similar to those made at most primary schools across Ballarat and beyond, contain information about suggested learning activities and resources for families that they can engage in at home, while teachers will also be available online for help with work.

"There's no set times that children have to be online," Mr McDonald said. "We just suggest to parents that it might be helpful if they develop a timetable for home so children get a good balance of learning time, exercise and other activities but it's up to what works best for each particular family," he said.

Lauren Smith, whose son Cohen is in foundation at Lumen Christi, said it would be a juggle to do schoolwork and work from home.

"I think the first two weeks will probably be the hardest as I work out my schedule too, but I'm lucky I can do a lot of my work at night so we will be doing his work during the day then hopefully when he goes to bed I will do the rest of mine," she said.

Mr McDonald said about 35 children would be supervised at school each day.

Across the state, schools have asked parents to apply or notify them of their intentions to send students to school under exemptions, such as children of essential workers, vulnerable and at-risk students and those who are unable to support learning from home and have no other option.

At Miners Rest Primary School, principal Dale Power said about 20 students would attend in the first two weeks of terms and he knew of about 30 families who could require access.

Mr Power said teachers saw the online learning model as an opportunity to advance the individual learning styles of their students and improve understanding of technology and proficiency.

"It will help build up the school and make greater and stronger connections with students out of necessity," he said.

During the first two weeks of term students will all work from hard copies as the entire school migrates to the online system.

"We will get everyone with a device and online but we can only move as fast as the slowest ones and we need students to all be on board at the same pace."

Teachers will conduct 'learning conversations' online about three times a week explicitly teaching and developing new concepts with the class, then have face to face online chats with students several times a week to help support those lessons.

Ballarat Clarendon College began their online learning for all year levels on Tuesday, a day ahead of their state school counterparts, though year 12 students did two days of online learning at the end of last term.

"It's not going to be the same but I think students will continue to learn and be engaged," said senior school co-head Laura Brady.

But she said the biggest challenge would be maintaining social cohesion and social connectedness among students, and keeping students physically and mentally fit and healthy.

"Schools are a learning environment but they are also a social environment. The learning side is easier to replicate but we need to make sure we are offering that sense of connection."

The online learning looks different depending on a student's year level.

Younger year levels have more flexibility so parents can assist. For example, in junior school teachers will pre-record some lessons giving children explanations and instructions, asking them to pause the recording to complete a task, then unpause and continue the lesson.

Teachers will then be available at the end of the day for parents and students to contact if they need. Students in years five to 10 will have similar pre-recorded lessons with a 15 minute live session with teachers at the end of the teaching period, but year 11 and 12 classes are taught live for 70 minutes.