Schools would go back on August 11th under plans drawn up by a Scottish Government group, the Daily Record can reveal.
And teachers would return in June to prepare for a new system of “blended” learning - with children spending half their school time in class and half at home.
Pupils starting primary and secondary school may also be allowed access to the school estate next month.
These are the key planks of a blueprint put together by Education Secretary John Swinney and experts.
One senior education source said: “Trying to reopen schools in a pandemic was always going to be a big challenge but lots of effort has gone into this plan.
“It is obviously dependent on the science but if the scientific advice is positive then this plan can be implemented and children will be able to return to school safely.”
School closures across the UK were a central part of the Scottish and UK Government plan to halt the spread of coronavirus.
In England, the Tory Government has clashed with the teaching unions over plans to reopen schools for some age groups from June 1st.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has adopted a more cautious approach and effectively ruled out pupils going back full-time before August.
Her Government is trying to come up with a solution that protects safety while at the same time safeguarding the education needs of pupils.
It is understood the Education Recovery Group, chaired by Swinney and which includes representatives from key stakeholders, has been working on a plan that aims to reopen schools on August 11th.
One of the first steps would be teachers and other school staff returning to school in June to work on a new blended system of in-school and in-home learning.
Almost all pupils will experience this type of learning if they go back in August.
Other aspects of the package include expanding the size of the school estate to deliver physical distancing, and increasing the size of the workforce.
Pupils who are starting primary or secondary education in August could also be given in-school experience from as early as next month.
Implementing the blueprint is dependent on scientific and medical advice, PPE for staff being in place, and an effective “test, trace and isolate” strategy.
A minute of an ERG meeting stated: "On a phased return, it was suggested that the first phase reintroduces staff only to school buildings."
At a briefing last week, the First Minister said the Government was working to reach a “consensus view” on the right time to allow pupils and staff to return to schools.
She said: “It is a reasonable thing for me to say right now - bearing in mind these decisions have not been taken in any final sense - but it is not going to be the case that schools are back to normal in any way, shape or form this side of the summer holidays.
“We are of course discussing whether it is possible for any pupils to go back in that time-frame, but if it is - and we haven’t concluded that yet - it’s likely to be on a very limited basis.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson pointed this newspaper to comments made by Sturgeon yesterday on an announcement she would make on easing lockdown restrictions:
“Thursday’s route-map will also set out our up to date assessment at that point of a phased return to school, as guided by the considerations of the Education Recovery Group.”
