MORE than 1,500 children are now attending schools each day - the highest number since the lockdown began.
All education settings in the north have been closed to most pupils since late March.
Since then, they have been providing distance learning and are open for key workers' children up to the age of 14 and vulnerable pupils.
Many are bracing themselves to continue offering supervised learning over the summer holiday period.
The numbers of young people attending is increasing. Last week, there was an average daily attendance of 1,354 - the highest to date.
Twice this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the number of pupils has exceeded 1,500.
A road map out of lockdown published by the Stormont executive this week said schools will not fully reopen to early years pupils until the fifth and final stage.
It has been said that young people can only return “when it is safe” and any decision will be made by the entire executive.
Teaching unions have expressed fears that there could be a "catastrophic" surge in Covid-19 infections if schools are told to reopen too soon.
Therefore, schools will likely reopen in September at the earliest and when they do return, there will be a mixture of in-class and remote learning.
Education Minister Peter Weir has praised teachers for their efforts to deliver lessons online and remotely.
"We want to ensure there is as much consistency between schools as possible," he told the assembly education committee.
"Work has gone on, teachers have gone above and beyond."
