Dominic Perrottet has warned the upcoming year will look 'very different' as parents prepare to send their children back to school amid the latest Covid wave.
New South Wales recorded 32,297 new infections and 32 deaths on Wednesday - with parts of the community call for a delay to returning to classes.
The state's premier is yet to reveal plans for dealing with the virus in schools but admitted there will be extensive challenges ahead.
'It will be very different to the way we set up the opening of schools last year, but we are completely focussed on ensuring that every school is open,' he told Today on Thursday morning.
Dominic Perrottet has warned the upcoming school year will look 'very different' as parents prepare to send their children back amid the latest Covid wave
'We want our kids back in the classroom on day one of term one, we're completely commited to that.'
Mr Perrottet was asked how schools will be able to cope with massive lay offs in the teaching force should faculty have to isolate, confirming National Cabinet are set to discuss dropping isolation periods from seven to five days.
The premier said schools should be the 'first to open and last to close'.
'It's not going to be without its challenges. Last year we brought kids back early in term four and we had some issues there as well. Some schools had to close when there was an outbreak but overwhelmingly schools stayed open,' he said.
'This time as we open schools there will be natural challenges as Omicron continues through the state but we can't let perfection be the enemy of the good.
The state's premier is yet to reveal plans for dealing with the virus in schools but told Today there will be extensive challenges ahead
'We want kids back in the classrooms for their educational outcomes and their mental health.'
Mr Perrottet described the situation as a 'major logistical operation' but said schools would open with 'as little disruption as possible'.
'We want to ensure schools around the state can
