WORK has begun on how school transport will be delivered when children return to classes after summer.
Schools are expecting massive disruption deep into the next academic year.
Only those in `key cohorts' - including students preparing for A-levels and GCSEs - will be welcomed back in August.
There will follow a phased return for all young people at the beginning of September - but dates have not yet been confirmed.
Worried parents have already raised concerns about how social distancing can be respected in classrooms and on home-to-school transport.
A detailed `restart programme' is to be developed over the summer.
Questions have been asked about how school buses will operate if children are to return at intervals. There has also been talk about `blended' learning, which would involve some online and some in-school teaching.
While not all pupils will return together, it is unlikely there can be any significant reduction in services. A full service would probably still have to run in areas even if just one child needed a pick up at their usual bus stop, and they qualified for transport.
Extra buses might also be required to help maintain social distancing.
Unions have said that without buses, minimal pupils returns will be inevitable.
The National Education Union said it will be vital that full transport provision resumes with adequate safe social distancing in place, for schools in rural areas.
"Compared to Europe where many or most pupils/students cycle or walk, very many of our pupils don't or can't," the union said in a paper sent to Education Minister Peter Weir.
"In primary schools, the culture in Northern Ireland is for the parents to accompany their children to and from school. Indeed many schools do not release without sight of parents collecting at gates. Any reopening needs to exhibit consistency in social and/or physical distancing in-school/college but also on journeys and in parental collection.
"Additionally, it is not clear whether commercial bus transport services for remote pupils will resume if there is not a full ticket-paying contingent on board."
The Education Authority (EA) confirmed that it had begun working proactively with the Department of Education, Translink and others to make arrangements for the next school year.
"Our planning will take into account any requirements for social distancing, as well as any confirmed arrangements for schools' reopening," an EA spokeswoman said.
"Parents should continue to apply as normal for transport assistance via our website and we will confirm details of arrangements at the earliest opportunity."
