Glasgow classes OFF but school buildings will remain open for childcare

Maureen McKenna, in charge of education in the city, said her team is working on a range of contingency plans to support families.

The move comes as Nicola Sturgeon today announced that Scottish schools would close from the end of the day on Friday.

Welsh schools will close at the same time and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced English schools are to also shut.

In Glasgow volunteers will be asked to step forward to help with keeping in touch with the city's most vulnerable families. 

Buildings will also remain open to help with childcare for the children of workers carrying out vital tasks to keep the city running.

The EIS and Unison unions are being consulted on plans and digital learning will also be underway.

Ms McKenna, Executive Director of Education, said: “We’ve issued communications to all our parents and carers today to say that following the announcement from the Scottish Government today that our schools and nurseries will close at the end of the school day on Friday.

“This is a very anxious time for everyone but we want to reassure our families that we are working on a range of contingency plans to help and support them – this includes working with the EIS and Unison unions – to organise volunteers that in the first instance who will be able to keep in touch with our vulnerable families that they are doing ok.

“We are also keeping our school buildings open during this period to enable us to try and offer childcare to allow our citizens to continue to carry out vital services to keep our city running – plans are still being discussed and we will issue information on this as soon as we can.

“These are unprecedented times and we need to help people through them as best we can and this includes learning packages that will be sent home with children and our secondary schools will be discussing the learning plans with their young people – this will include digital learning where possible.”