NSW Health recommends all students and staff undertake a self-test and confirm a negative result before the return to school on February 1.

It also recommends students and staff take the tests twice a week for the first month of term one.

The NSW Government distributed 12 million RATs to over 3150 government, non-government schools and early childhood centres to assist with surveillance testing, with many local schools having received their supply at the start of the week.

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Lorrae Sampson, Principal at Nowra Anglican College, said the RATs were already being distributed through a coordinated, contactless pick up at the school.

"We're actually standing outside handing them out to parents as they drive through the turning circle," she said on Thursday. "The parents have been really positive with the pick up process."

Principal Sampson is positive the recommended bi-weekly tests, along with other safety measures, will contribute to eliminating the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

"It's a good control measure. There's always an element of risk, but I think it'll be okay," she said.

"When our students come to school, we have a welcome team and we put hand sanitiser on all the students. The students have to wear masks in the senior school and also the staff have to wear masks.

"We've still got all of our hygiene processes in place and we'll do our best to minimise the spread. I think for students mental health and wellbeing, it's really important they're back at school, doing normal carnivals and camps."

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Ruth Winfield, Principal at Vincentia High School, said they will be in communication with parents about having RAT kits available for pick up on Monday, 31 January.

Principal Winfield said it was "exciting" to see the delivery of tests come in earlier this week which will be an extra safety measure for staff and students.

"It's an additional measure to mask wearing, ventilation, sanitising, physical distancing that the Department (of Education) has put in place," she said. "We're just really looking forward to seeing the students."

Glen Kingsley, Principal at Nowra High School, said in a letter to parents "we will only be providing RATs for Week 1 and parents/carers will be able to collect them from our canteen area" with different dates and times for cohorts as follows:

Families who have children across different cohorts, will be able to pick up the tests in one visit.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said children will quickly adjust to having a swab put up their nose if parents calmly explain the situation to them.

"As long as there is a calm message to the children about the importance of staying safe and enjoying school, I'm absolutely certain children will learn very quickly to accommodate to having the rapid antigen test," said Mr Hazzard.

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