EDUCATION chiefs have told of the huge efforts staff have made this summer to prepare for the return of children to classes.
Some year groups began the new term yesterday although the academic year will resume in full on September 1.
Around 350,000 young people are preparing to start their school year.
The Education Authority (EA) said it had been working hard throughout the summer.
Chief Executive Sara Long said the EA had worked closely with schools, parents/guardians and educational partners.
"Our 44,000 workforce of teachers, teaching assistants, cleaners, bus drivers, planners, youth workers, social workers and many more have been very busy getting ready to support children, young people and their families get off to the very best start," she said.
"Some of the ways we are doing this include: Getting ready to transport 86,000 pupils and Further Education students to school and college every day - that's the equivalent of filling Croke Park or Wembley Stadium - and to do this we run the second largest bus fleet in Northern Ireland."
She added there had been "a significant investment in Special Educational Needs" which means additional classes, teachers and classroom assistants.
Ms Long said EA also worked to ensure around 100,000 young people had access to free school meals and also to uniform grants.
"We also continue to work very closely with the Department of Education, schools and health colleagues, in line with the very latest guidance and public health advice on Covid-19 measures, to keep our children and young people and staff safe," she added.
