Nicola Sturgeon has said she hopes to reopen schools to some pupils later this month.
The First Minister met with her Scottish Government Cabinet this morning where it was agreed that children in primaries one, two and three should provisionally return to class from the week beginning Monday, February 22.
Pre-school nurseries would also reopen at the same time as part of a gradual reopening of the wider schools system.
There are also plans to allow limited numbers of senior high school pupils to return on a part-time this month to resume work on qualifications.
But all other children would be expected to stay home and continue with remote learning for now. The reopening plans will be confirmed by the Government in two weeks' time.
Speaking at the Scottish Parliament today, Sturgeon said she hoped to reopen schools to all pupils in Scotland as soon as possible.
She also revealed that a regular covid testing system for pupils and staff would finally be introduced.
Senior phase secondary school students, and all staff in primary, secondary and special schools will benefit from routine at-home testing two times a week.
"It is a statement of the obvious that all of us want to see children back in full-time, face to face education just as soon as possible," the First Minister told MSPs.
"The closure of school premises to most pupils right now is necessary - unfortunately - in the interests of protecting the country from the harm of this virus.
"But evidence of the wider health, developmental and social harms being experienced by children concern all of us.
"I am also acutely aware of the pressure school closures is putting on working parents and on family life more generally."
The First Minister continued: "I have to be candid that our room for manoeuvre, given the current state of the pandemic, is limited.
"But I want to be equally candid about the government’s determination to use every inch of headroom we have to get children back to school.
"The judgment the Cabinet arrived at this morning, based on the advice of our expert advisers, is that if we all agree to abide with the lockdown restrictions for a bit longer, so that our progress in suppressing the virus continues, we can begin a phased return to school from February 22."
"Our intention is that from week beginning February 22 there will be a full-time return of early learning and childcare for all children below school age, a full-time return to school for pupils in primaries 1-3, and - a part-time return, but on a very limited basis, for senior phase pupils to allow in-school practical work that is necessary for the completion of national qualification courses."
Almost all pupils in Scotland have been unable to return to class since before the Christmas holidays.
Scottish Labour interim leader Jackie Baillie said: “Almost a year into this pandemic we are all too aware of the negative impact lockdown and school closures are having on children and young people.
“The Institute for Fiscal Studies set out that by the time the pandemic is over, most children will have missed almost half a year of normal in-person schooling.
"The lifetime cost of this could be as much as £40,000. So the effect of covid on lost learning could translate into lower incomes and higher inequality."
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie - who previously called for testing in schools - said: “We need to look at the practicalities and implications for teacher workloads.
"Many young people were required, often repeatedly, to self-isolate when schools were open before Christmas, so teachers will require additional support if they are going to be expected to deliver both remote learning and in-class teaching at the same time, as well as the additional test and trace work they are being asked to do.”
EIS, the country's biggest teaching union, welcomed plans to regularly test pupils and staff.
General secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The availability of regular resting for staff is something the EIS has called for, so that is welcome, as is its extension to senior phase pupils which will offer some reassurance to their families.”
