Brothers Ashwin (5) and Morgan Creamer-Smith (8) were chomping at the bit to walk to school this morning.

It's the first day of the 2020 school year and they walked excitedly up the hill to Lismore Heights Public School for the first time together.

The boys were two of many school children returning after the summer school holidays - but for Ashwin, he was particularly excited because it was going to be his first day at school, after watching his brother Morgan go to school for the past three years.

He had his new shorts, new shoes and new backpack, which he picked himself. What was in his lunch box was going to be a surprise.

Ashwin said he'd already been to the school last year for the "check out" days, as called them - a soft start where the younger children are introduced to what it's like to be at school over a few short sessions.

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Brothers Ashwin and Morgan Creamer-Smith.

Morgan said he was in Year 3 this year and the best thing he loved about going to school was "hanging with friends".

"I like learning things too," Morgan said.

Morgan and Ashwin's dad, Jonathan, said Lismore Heights Public was a great school.

"There's plenty of respect in how they deal with things at the school," he said. "They have lots of award systems in place and that makes it a good experience for the kids.

"We like that there's a strong presence of Indigenous culture at the school too. They learns songs in language and have a focus on Indigenous art.

"They are always putting on musicals and play and encourage the children to dance and perform."

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Parents Jonathan Smith and Rachel Creamer with their boys Ashwin and Morgan.