John Swinney has confirmed it is "likely" pupils will face a phased return to classrooms in Scotland once it is safe to do so for both students and teachers.
The Deputy First Minister said early-learning and childcare and some of the younger primary age groups could return first, along with senior pupils and those with additional support needs.
He told the BBC Politics Scotland show: "I think pragmatically it is likely that it will be a phased return for pupils in different cohorts. We are exploring the merits of early-learning and childcare and some of the younger primary age groups returning at an earlier stage than other pupils.
"We are also exploring the position in relation to senior phase pupils - the S4 to S6 pupils who will be facing national qualifications in the course of the next few months to get them back into face-to-face learning.
We are also looking at the position of pupils with additional support needs. So these are likely to be the groups that we consider first and we will give as much notice as possible about the timescale that can be put in place because fundamentally I have to look at the general context of community transmission and the safety of pupils and staff on any return".
Mr Swinney also confirmed that the Scottish Government will try to give parents "as much notice" as possible about a return to face-to-face learning - and hopes that this could be about two weeks.
He said: "What I've said is that we will try to first of all give as much notice about the return to face-to-face learning as we possibly can do and I would like to give about two weeks notice if that is possible and practical to enable people to make their plans".
And amid speculation that some secondary school pupils may have to repeat a year as fears grow over continued lockdown, the Deputy First Minister said that he is working with the National Qualifications Group to ensure that the Government "can be confident" about the certification of exams.
He added: "I think a good amount of teaching and learning is being delivered. We are focused on making sure that young people who will be facing national qualifications are able to have access to that learning and teaching which underpins the phasing discussions that I am taking forward and I'm working with the National Qualifications Group to make sure that we can be confident about the certification so that young people can take the next stages in their lives to which they are entitled."
