Schools in NSW have devised plans for a staggered return to face-to-face learning, and put them into action on Monday.

The week has been described by some principals in Tamworth as an absolute success.

Principals at primary and high schools in the area agreed the kids' excitement upon their return to campus was palpable.

At Calrossy Anglican School's primary campus, year groups have been taking it in turns to be in the classroom.

Children of essential workers and those in vulnerable situations continued to go to schools, but the majority have been learning online during the COVID-19 shutdown.

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"They were all very excited," principal David Smith told the Leader.

"The hardest thing is they all wanted to give each other hugs and cuddles and high-fives and we have to say no, be really careful."

He said the uptake had been promising, with about 60 per cent of the school's population turning up for classes on Friday, and more than 90 percent of the secondary school's senior students back on campus.

"The kids have loved being back, and the teachers love having them back, and I think the parents seem to be enjoying it too," Mr Smith said.

St Nicholas Primary School in Tamworth took a different tack, and brought their students back in house colours.

Principal John Clery said there was great anticipation leading up to Monday and it was smiles all round when the kids walked in the gates, with the front of the school and the teachers decorated in house colours.

However, he said it was important to acknowledge and support people feeling anxious about returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kids have been away for about eight weeks, in really difficult circumstances, so any role we could play to alleviate that anxiety by making it welcoming was crucial," Mr Clery said on Friday.

The school averaged about 300 kids per day, or about 50 per cent of it's population.

"The week has exceeded our expectations in the way our children have come back ... our transition back to having all students on-site is looking further ahead than we would have envisioned at the start of the week," he said.

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Gunnedah's Carinya invited all their students, from kindergarten to Year 7, back to school this week and had more than 80 per cent attendance. The school's principal Chad Kentwell is expecting closer to 100 per cent next week.

Getting senior students back in the classroom has been a priority for both McCarthy Catholic College and Calrossy's secondary school.

McCarthy boasted a 95 per cent attendance rate for Year 11 and 12 students for the week, according to principal Geoff McManus, and more than 85 per cent in the younger years.

"It was just really quite heartwarming to see that actually, and I think those kids that used to see school as a bad place have probably changed their mind quite significantly," Mr McManus said.

He said he's extremely proud of his staff, students, and their parents for adapting to circumstances they never saw coming, but notes the "good" to come out of it are the lessons they'll take on board when crafting a full return to face-to-face learning.

"It's the real positive spirit of our first week, because who's done this before? No one has," he said.

"Some of the skills that we've learnt in that online environment will also be useful going forwards."

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