AN `education forum' should be convened before schools are allowed to return fully, unions have been told.
Children are to be brought back into the classrooms at different times when the lockdown is lifted.
Only a small number of vulnerable pupils and children of key workers have been attending schools for the past eight weeks.
Sinn Féin's Karen Mullan, who is deputy chair of the assembly education committee, said there was a need for a "wide-ranging conversation" involving teachers, school leaders, parents, trade unions and public health experts in advance of any reopening.
The Foyle MLA proposed the establishment of an education forum to the five main teaching unions, which she said would "address huge concern and anxiety at the prospect of an eventual return to school".
"It's my view that any return to school must be done in complete partnership and in conversation with all those involved in education when the time comes," Ms Mullan said.
"Parents, young people and our teaching staff must have confidence that health and safety is paramount in any return to school.
"There will be no one size fits all approach for schools in preparing to re-open. There should be an intense period of discussion that will be crucial to understand the flexibilities and the bespoke needs that different schools and different settings will require."
