"I have some anxiety about the reopening of schools because of the degree of change this represents," John Swinney tells @SP_EduSkills #schoolsreopening #reopeningschools #CoronavirusScotland

"There will be limited opportunities to social distance in secondary schools where, for example, the capacity of the school is very high," Stephen McCabe of Cosla tells @SP_EduSkills.

McCabe says "there will absolutely circumstances where face coverings will be required".

There is a "lot of anxiety out in the school communities", adds McCabe.

Education directors "confident" schools will be ready for full-time learning in August, says McCabe.

Whatever decision is made on Thursday, education directors confident they will be in a position to deliver, says McCabe.

McCabe stresses August will not be a return to the pre-Covid-19 definition of normal in schools, adds that the "new normal may be with us for a considerable period of time".

"We are at a relatively early stage in the understanding of Covid," says Swinney. He adds that "we have to be prepared to revisit some of our assumptions".

McCabe: "We know that there are going to be incidents of Covid-19 in our schools, and we are going to have to manage them effectively."

McCabe: Some schools are at over 100% capacity, some are at 40%, so approaches will not be uniform around the country.

Labour's Daniel Johnson says some schools will, for example, struggle to implement one-way systems. Swinney says regular monitoring will assess emerging issues in schools and any changes in guidance required.

McCabe: "PPE will be provided to every member of [school] staff who needs it, based on risk assessments."

Sample Covid-19 testing will take place in a wide range of schools across Scotland, says Swinney, providing an extra layer of testing.

Swinney asked by Greens' Ross Greer if he can guarantee that school testing regime to be announced later this week will be ready for schools' return on 11 August; Swinney says work ongoing "at speed" but does not guarantee it.

Labour's Iain Gray says he has heard of one council which will need 165 extra cleaners for schools; McCabe says it will be a "huge challenge" to recruit enough cleaners in time. McCabe also refers to one council advertising for 72 extra daytime cleaners.

Extra costs for cleaners and other staff (eg facilities management and school transport staff) will be "considerably more" than £20 million announced by Scottish government last week, but total cost not yet known. Swinney says this sum was an initial indication of "good faith".

Swinney on mental health as schools reopen: he highlights work by @PortobelloHigh to create a more "reassuring, welcoming and supportive environment" for pupils.

SNP's Gail Ross asks about added difficulties of transition to P1 and S1 during Covid-19 outbreak. McCabe says a "phased return" would help, perhaps lasting one week before a full return of pupils. "Health and wellbeing will be a primary focus in the early days," he adds.

Tories' Jamie Greene asks what scientific evidence government is waiting on before its announcement on Thursday. "Prevalence of Covid in community is uppermost in government's mind," replies Swinney. He notes some comparatively high levels recorded in communities in recent weeks.

Swinney says that reopening of schools on 11 August is "uppermost priority" for Scottish government.

Committee now moves into private session to reviews day's evidence. Story to follow soon at https://www.tes.com/news/hub/scotland