JOHN Swinney is expected to announce that preparations are under way over the summer break to re-open schools fully without social distancing from 11 August if the virus suppression continues, it has emerged.

The Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary is expected to tell MSPs this afternoon about the details of the proposals to get Scottish pupils back into the classroom on a full time basis.

Ahead of his statement in the Scottish Parliament, the BBC reported that Swinney would be announcing the full re-opening of schools so long as the suppression of the cornonavirus continues.

BBC journalist Glen Campbell tweeted: "Breaking: @johnswinney expected to announce preparations to re-open schools 100% without social distancing from 11 August IF virus suppression continues. Not guaranteed. Blended learning to remain as contingency."

Andrew Wilson, a former SNP MSP and author of the SNP's new economic blueprint for independence, welcomed the development.

He tweeted: "This is an immensely good thing. A huge prize that is worth us all working together to achieve. Transformational for our children first and foremost. But potentially transformational for jobs, business and the economy. And to women in particular and parents in general. Great!"

In recent days the part time or blended model for education which would see pupils taught for as little as one day a week in class has come in for criticism - including from SNP backbenchers.

Last week former Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil said proposals for a 'blended learning" were "absolutely unacceptable" and "not good-quality education".

He added: "It's not blending education, it's bleeding education."

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Neil yesterday renewed his concerns. He wrote on Twitter: "Local councils need to take a leaf out of the NHS’s book and requisition facilities and recruit additional staff if needed. Obviously, additional funding from the Scottish Government will be required to achieve this.

He added: "Educationalists are doing a fantastic job teaching our children remotely and I commend the work they’re doing. However, local authorities need to apply a bit of imagination to get kids back to full-time education."

Another senior SNP insider pointed to the decision to convert the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow to the temporary NHS Louisa Jordan at the outset of the pandemic and said a similar initiative to create extra capacity should be considered for schools.

"We planned a hospital that we didn't need, thank goodness. With education we have seven weeks to go and I think we will have to have a review. We have a lot of community centres, churches, a lot of buildings lying empty. Councils should be more innovative and proactive," the source said.