PRIMARY schools should "ensure books featuring trans parents" are included in the curriculum, principals have urged.
The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) has drawn up new advice with campaign group Stonewall.
It also suggests school leaders should "celebrate diversity and ensure visibility of trans perspectives".
The NAHT represents principals and vice-principals in around two-thirds of Northern Ireland schools.
The guidance is billed as the first of its kind in Britain and Northern Ireland and aims to help schools "become places where all staff can thrive and feel confident to be authentic about who they are".
It covers issues including harassment, discrimination, bullying and "lack of visibility" and it underlines the role and responsibilities of school leaders.
The guidance calls for leaders to "ensure trans students and children with trans parents feel included in their learning, and trans staff members feel positively represented in lesson content and welcomed in the school environment".
It also suggests that dress codes for pupils and staff members are modified "to avoid gender stereotypes and allow trans staff members to dress in accordance with their correct gender".
In addition, it suggests that relationships and sex education (RSE) "is inclusive of trans people and their experiences, including in discussions around online safety".
"When pupils see staff members are able to be authentic about themselves within the school community and are treated with equal respect and acceptance, they are more likely to feel able to be authentic and open themselves as well as encouraged to treat all members of the school community with equal respect," the guidance reads.
