By Rachael Ward and Callum Godde in Melbourne

A boy killed in a school crash tragedy has been identified as 11-year-old grade five student Jack Davey.

Photos made public by his family less than a day after his death show the Auburn South pupil smiling in his school uniform and holding a puppy.

He was critically injured and died on the way to hospital after a car ploughed through a fence and into a school yard on Tuesday afternoon, hitting a group of children sitting at a table.

Two 11-year-old girls, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were seriously injured and taken to hospital.

The driver, a 40-year-old woman, had just collected her child from the school in Melbourne’s east and attempted a U-turn when the crash happened.

The Hawthorn East mother was arrested and interviewed by detectives. No charges were laid and she was released overnight pending further inquiries.

She and the child in the car were not injured.

Auburn South Principal Marcus Wicher said remarkable courage has been shown following the crash, with focus now on the ongoing welfare of staff and students.

“This school community is so wonderful and strong, together we will get through this,” Mr Wicher told reporters.

The response from the local community has been overwhelming, he said, thanking everyone who reached out with generous offers of support.

“I want to thank and acknowledge my wonderful staff and those parents who helped yesterday, including providing comfort to our children.

“The courage and care can only be described as remarkable.”

The school was open on Wednesday and extra support services on hand.

Premier Jacinta Allan, who has a son in grade five, said her stomach lurched when she heard about the accident.

“Everyone would have had the same reaction,” she said.

“For those of us who have done the school drop off and pick up, you would also feel this quite acutely.”

The premier encouraged those struggling in the wider community to use support services on offer.

Ms Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll spoke to the school’s principal on Tuesday night after he had spoken to Jack’s mother.

“It was a really tough conversation for the principal,” the premier said.

“He relayed to Ben and I just how strong the family is in the toughest of times.”

Mr Carroll and education department secretary Jenny Atta visited the school on Wednesday morning.

An extra 25 teachers from neighbouring schools are on site to support their colleagues, along with pastoral and counselling services.

“This will be difficult days, weeks, months ahead,” Mr Carroll said.

Dozens of families walked hand in hand with children to morning drop off, with parents congregating in the schoolyard as young students made their way to class.

Others heading to the school carried flowers and biscuits, a floral tribute growing to more than a dozen bunches left just metres away from the crash site.

A temporary cover blocks off where the car slammed through the school fence, a grassy area next to the oval underneath a gum tree and a sailcloth.

Detectives worked into the evening to investigate the circumstances of the crash, which Inspector Craig McEvoy said appeared to be a “tragic accident”.

“It’s really tough for everybody involved, from the community, the school community, the locals, the first responders, ambulances and police,” he said on Tuesday.

“These events are always hard where there’s death and serious injury, but especially difficult when there’s children involved.”

The car had a green P-plate, but Insp McEvoy said he was not certain of the woman’s licence status.