Thousands of school students in Northern Ireland have been returning to their classrooms for the first time since they were closed due to Covid-19 restrictions in March.
Despite warnings from teachers' unions that educators had not been given enough time to respond to safety rules issued earlier this month, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride insisted it was safe for children to return.
Schools have been advised that strict social distancing between children may be relaxed if there are hygiene measures in place.
The government also said face coverings are not mandatory for routine use by pupils.
Stormont's Education Minister Peter Weir said schools were not unsafe places for children and teachers.
He said that children will come to no harm as a result of attending school, but he added that evidence exists of the "long-term harm to children's education, life opportunities, mental health and well-being from not attending school".
"There is clear unequivocal evidence that children are less likely to catch Covid-19, where they do most of them will have mild to moderate symptoms and in most cases they will make a very full recovery.
"There is a very, very low, indeed an incredibly low incidence, of serious disease within children and they are also less likely to transmit the virus," the minister said.
He also said he fully understands the stresses felt by teachers, parents and pupils as disruption and uncertainty regarding the future continue.
"My key priority has always been to ensure all of our children and young people return to school on a full-time basis, as soon as it is safe to do so," Mr Weir said.
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Watch: Irish kids on back to school in the age of Covid-19
Schools closed in March to help contain the spread of coronavirus.
This morning students in Primary 7, Year 12, Year 14, whose preparation for exams was disrupted by the lockdown, returned to classes, while all other pupils will begin the new school year on the week beginning 31 August after months of variable levels of home schooling.
Official guidance recommends the formation of protective bubbles for primary school children and pupils in years 8-10 in post-primary schools.
The department said interactions between different year groups of older pupils should be limited.
A total of £42 million has been spent on re-starting schools safely.
A package of measures for the first term covers the cost of substitute teachers and other school expenditure, personal protective equipment, school well-being, transport and special educational needs.
Newry Principal welcomes return of students
The Principal of St Joseph's Boys' High School in Newry, said it was great to see students coming back and meeting up with one another.
Declan Murray said the school was well prepared and flexible enough to deal with any problems that might arise.
He said there was a worry generally that outbreaks of the virus could occur in schools after the new term begins.
"Undoubtedly there's a degree of nervousness and anticipation as to what's going to happen in the future," he said.
"I think if ourselves and the parents and the community work together, we should be able to reopen schools safely. But we are prepared for the possibility of there being a rise in cases, and the fact that we may have to adapt again."
Mr Murray said they are making sure that the pupils maintain social distancing and that's there's no mixing between year groups.
"We've asked the pupils to make changes. We're asking them not to bring in blazers, not to wear ties, not to bring in schoolbags, and we're asking them to bring in sterilised pencil cases.
"Parents have been very accommodating when it comes to that. We don't want students to be scared, we want them to be educated about the risks," he said.
Matthew Rice, who is in Year 11 at St Joseph's, said he was nervous at first at the thoughts of coming back to school.
"Eventually it will stick with us to remember to stay one metre apart. It will be hard at first. It will take some time to get used to the rules, and to seeing more people, but I'm happy to be back. It feels like ordinary school, but it's different," he said.
Additional reporting Sharon Gaffney
