Parents and teachers have reacted with some trepidation to the state government’s back-to-school plan which was released on Sunday.

Under it, students and staff will be subject to rapid antigen tests twice a week.

There will also be mandatory mask-wearing for all staff and high school students, and limited interaction between year groups.

David Hope, Northern Sydney P&C Association President, says parents are just desperate to get their kids back in school.

“There’s two things going on at the same time,” he said on 2GB Drive.

“The parents want their kids to go back to school because they need their own sanity for one thing.

“But, more importantly, they want their kids to be learning and missing so much face-to-face (interaction) has had a really big impact on their learning and also on their social development and their mental health.

However, Northern Beaches Primary School Teacher, Kate*, said she and her colleagues were nervous about returning back to the classroom.

“We feel as though not a lot is being put in place to protect us,” she said on 2GB Drive.

“For myself, I’m pregnant at the moment, so I’ve got that extra health element there.

“But when I heard, for example, students aren’t being asked to wear masks in primary school, I was a bit disappointed about that.

“But also just us being asked to come into classrooms where social distancing is not possible with 30 children in a room.

“So there just doesn’t seem to be a lot in place to protect us and our families.”

Press PLAY to hear more from Kate and David Hope below

*Not real name

Image: iStock by Getty