Scottish schools could close until February if the government backs a recommendation from its expert advisory group, with Nicola Sturgeon set to detail plans this afternoon.
It is understood a meeting of the Scottish Government's education recovery group [ERG] recommended that in-person teaching should be halted until 1 February because of surging coronavirus rates.
Teachers would instead move to online learning, with the situation reviewed every two weeks.
The final decision will be made by the Cabinet before Nicola Sturgeon lays out any changes in the Scottish Parliament.
It comes as the First Minister warned the rapid increase in cases was a "very serious concern", with record breaking daily increases in new cases announced last week.
“The recent, rapid increase in COVID cases in Scotland, driven by the new variant of the virus, is a very serious concern.
"The even steeper rises and severe pressure on the NHS that is being experienced in some other parts of the UK is a sign of what may lie ahead in Scotland if we do not take all possible steps now to slow the spread of the virus, while the vaccination programme progresses," she said.
Nicola Sturgeon and SNP education boss John Swinney, who chairs the ERG, have said previously it was the government's intention to keep schools open.
But concern about a new variant of the virus, which is believed to be as much as 70 per cent more transmissible , have led to calls for tougher lockdown measures than the level four restrictions currently in place across the country.
Under current plans, children and young people are expected to return to class by 18 Janaury, with children of key workers allowed to return sooner.
For all the latest from Nicola Sturgeon, see our liveblog here.
