A twice-a-week rapid testing regime is a key plank of the NSW government's back-to-school strategy, with air purifiers to play a major role and masks compulsory in certain grades.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Sunday that campuses would be supplied with two RATs per student each week as well as for teachers.

Up to six million tests are being sent to 3000 public, Catholic and independent schools across NSW ahead of the start of term 1.

Schools will not be closed when there is a positive case, with no contact tracing for students and staff. However parents and guardians will be notified.

NSW Teachers Federation regional organiser Jack Galvin Waight said Hunter teachers and principals were bracing themselves for a disruptive start to the school year.

"Omicron has taught us that nowhere is safe, including Hunter schools," Mr Galvin Waight said.

"We clearly remain concerned for the health and safety of our students, staff and their families."

READ MORE: Students may have to take rapid antigen tests twice a week to attend school

NSW Secondary Principals' Council president Craig Petersen said schools would tailor how they distribute tests to parents based on their size and location.

"I would be surprised if everyone follows the same model; it will have to be localised to the context of the school, so parents will have to be paying attention to their school," he said.

Mr Petersen anticipated many schools would use planned teacher development days on January 28 and 31 to organise parent pick-ups.

Mr Galvin Waight said the teachers' union would closely monitor the effectiveness of the risk mitigation strategies with a view to seeking urgent adjustments should they be necessary.

"Robust risk mitigation strategies are essential if we are going to make our schools as safe as they possibly can be. Teachers, students and communities in the Hunter are entitled to a safe working environment," he said.

The government's return-to-school plan also includes mandatory mask wearing for all staff and high school students, with masks encouraged for children in primary schools; limiting interaction between year groups; limiting visitors to those providing essential curriculum and wellbeing support, and COVID-safe settings for music, sport and excursions.

Schools will maximise natural and mechanical ventilation, with air purifiers dispatched to where they are needed, and will have contingency plans in place to manage any disruptions to the workforce.

Mr Perrottet said supporting students to return safely to the classroom is vital after two years of disruption to their education.

"Students learn best at school, some students have spent a quarter of their schooling at home. We're committed to bringing students back safely," he said.

"New COVID-smart measures will help make this happen, including surveillance testing both students and staff twice weekly with RATs.

"What is most important about this approach is that it allows students to enjoy all aspects of their schooling in a safe and sensible way.

"The government is distributing more than 12 million RATs to over 3150 government, non-government schools and early childhood centres to assist with surveillance testing of staff and students."

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr said the government's return-to-school plan placed further pressure on school teachers and staff during what is already a difficult time.

"Schools and school teachers will once again be expected to juggle the unpredictability of COVID in our communities," he said.

"School teachers and support staff are about to become 'instant nurses' in the rollout of rapid antigen tests - yet another expectation placed on the shoulders of a profession that is criticised and undermined every other day by politicians offering ill-informed commentary on what should or shouldn't happen in our schools."

Mr Barr also questioned why schools aren't being used as vaccination sites.

"The Premier has been unable to explain why he wouldn't use schools, supported by trained and qualified medical staff, to assist with the rollout of vaccines to school-aged children and boosters for family members," he said.

"For decades now schools have played this role with measles, mumps and rubella vaccination shots. Why can't we do it with COVID vaccines?"