Classrooms across NSW are being audited for ventilation and COVID-19 safety requirements ahead of students returning a week earlier than previously planned.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the audit should be finished by early next week, while a tender is out for ventilation and air purifiers in those schools that require increased airflow.
Kindergarten, year one and year 12 students will be the first to resume face-to-face learning, on October 18, while other grades will have a staggered return to the classroom over the following two weeks.
All students will be back at school by November 1.
The decision to return to the classroom comes after NSW exceeded vaccination double-dosage expectations and should reach 70 per cent full coverage next week.
Ms Mitchell said NSW Health had advised natural ventilation and maximising the airflow in and out of classrooms was important.
"The ventilation work that we are doing ... that is one element of our return to school plan," she said on Thursday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledged not everyone would agree with the early return to the classroom but said the decision was made in the best interests of the majority of students and parents.
"Managing a return in a school system the size of NSW's is not a small task," she said.
"Keeping the staged approach, but moving it all one week earlier, allows schools to shift their plans forward and still provides time for staff and eligible students to get vaccinated."
Teachers are required to be fully vaccinated by November 8.
Ms Mitchell told reporters surveys with teachers indicated their vaccination status was tracking in line with the rest of the state, while Ms Berejiklian said it was higher.
"I don't have the exact percentage but the last time we checked it was, it was way above the state average," the premier said.
NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said it remained to be seen how many teachers would be double vaccinated by that date.
Mr Garvrielatos said the audit of ventilation in classrooms only began in the last weeks of term three despite repeated calls months earlier.
So far 100,000 classrooms have been inspected in 2200 schools across the state, with more than 400,000 windows and 130,000 fans checked.
