A number of classrooms and the canteen were affected by the blaze on Sunday morning and police believe it was deliberately lit.

The damage caused by the fire is estimated at more than $750,000, police said.

As investigations continued on Monday, families of students expressed their sadness, dismay and outrage at the fire on social media.

“Such a devastating thing to happen,” Dianne Carroll said in a post on the school’s Facebook page.

“Feel for all associated with Buninyong but especially for the students and teachers whose work has been destroyed.”

Term 3 is not due to start until next week and the school is aiming to be ready for the students as scheduled and with as few disruptions as possible.

Principal Anne van Dartel told of their focus in a post to the school’s Facebook page on Sunday.

“Overnight a fire at Buninyong Public School destroyed the canteen, two support classes and two infants’ classes in E block,” she said.

“At this point, we are working towards having the school fully operational, day one, as the school has some alternative teaching spaces and we are trying to minimise the effect for the students and school community.

“Enquiries or information about the cause of the fire should be directed to the emergency services or to Dubbo police.” 

The principal expressed gratitude to emergency services, school security and Dubbo School of Distance Education.

“Special thanks goes to our neighbours for alerting 000. Much appreciated,” Ms van Dartel said.

Offers of support have flowed in.

“Beautiful school, fantastic staff and awesome students,” Min Quayle said in a Facebook post.

“Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help out.”

Within hours of the fire police reported they believed it was deliberately lit and appealed for witnesses.

Police also later said the Department of Education had clarified a canteen and four classrooms had been damaged, not six as originally reported.