Schools and weather update.
All South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries will be closed today (Wednesday). This is due to expected worsening weather and road conditions throughout the day.
Given the ongoing weather issues ALL South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries will remain closed tomorrow (Friday). The amber (be prepared) warning for this area has been extended to 10am Friday, and a yellow (be aware) warning is in place for much of Scotland until Monday night.
Hey
@LewisCapaldi
- despite your international chart success, we hope you agree there's no 'gritter' accolade than having made it onto the side of one of our vehicles!
South Lanarkshire Council can confirm that NO schools in the local authority contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). All schools were replaced or refurbished between 2004 and 2015 and no RAAC was used in our modernisation programmes.
Result of the petition to remove Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier. Petition successful. Total electorate 81,123. Number of electors who validly signed the petition 11,896. Percentage of electors who validly signed the petition 14.66%. 37 returns were rejected.
We've just received the detailed guidance on the re-opening of all schools and nurseries to pupils in August. We will contact parents/carers and staff as soon as we've had the opportunity to consider what it means for a safe return and the arrangements we need to put in place
We intend to re-open local household waste and recycling centres on 1 June, if the Scottish Government advises it is safe to do so. We are finalising temporary arrangements to protect site users and staff, and will issue further advice in the coming days.
We welcome today’s update from the DFM and we are all keen that our children and young people return to school full time when it is deemed safe to do so.
We will work closely with head teachers, school staff and trade unions and will continue to update parents and families.
We are preparing for schools and nurseries re-opening when it is safe to do so and await legal advice and direction from the Scottish Government tomorrow, Thursday 29 May. We are planning a phased return and will share plans with parents and Parent Councils as soon as possible
We note the First Minister’s announcement on the phased return of children to schools from 22 Feb. We are developing plans on that basis & await further details of testing arrangements for staff & senior pupils. The council & schools will continue to update parents and carers.
In line with national guidance, all South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries will be closed on Monday 19 September, which has been declared a bank holiday to mark HM The Queen’s state funeral. All premises will reopen as normal on Tuesday 20 September.
Preparations are being made to open ALL South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries and run all school transportation, including Additional Support Needs, on Monday 5 March. We'll continue to monitor the weather generally and at specific locations. Any changes will be updated here.
HRH The Princess Royal visited the council’s Gypsy Traveller site at Springbank, East Kilbride this afternoon to hear more about the award-winning work being done to support the community. HRH was welcomed by council representatives, politicians, and the families who live there.
23 gritters out overnight. Looks like 24/7 gritting will continue until Monday. Big thanks to all our gritters drivers. Doing great work in frequently difficult conditions.
One of our schools is the first in the UK to have been re-accredited for an award thanks to their work in Nurturing. Congratulations to Trinity High School - read the full story on the View news pages:
The team at David Walker Gardens care home in Rutherglen is using music and dance to boost spirits and ease the difficulty of separation from loved ones. The event is so popular it's being staged every day. Read more here:
#councilscare
@jasonleitch
📢 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT📢
We have been informed by Unison that industrial action on Wednesday 8 November has been suspended.
This means that ALL schools and nurseries will be open as normal, and ALL pupils should attend.
Further information will be communicated on Monday.
One of our bin crews had a lovely surprise this morning as two kind residents left out packets of biscuits for them to enjoy! And two children had made posters to cheer up other crews. On their behalf, thank you! Full story on the View news pages:
South Lanarkshire Council, with NHS Lanarkshire, has decided to close Lanark Grammar School in Lanark tomorrow, Friday 13 March 2020 as a precautionary measure following the emergence of a coronavirus case at the school. More details here
We note the FM’s announcement today on the return of all primary pupils full-time and all secondary pupils part-time to schools from 15 March. Plans are being developed with our schools and further details will be provided to staff, parents and carers soon
A teacher from Calderglen High School is now on the road to recovery after testing positive for coronavirus. He pays tribute to everyone who helped him through his battle - including his wife, who also works at the school. Read more on the View news pages:
We have extended provision at our schools on Monday and Tuesday to the children of all emergency service workers, ie NHS staff, police, fire and rescue, ambulance and the prison service.
3/3 To give just one example of these everyday heroes: the SLC gritter crew who helped get paramedics to the home of a little boy who had collapsed in one of our weather-hit towns (hats off to our brilliant NHS colleagues too).
The Petitions Officer has been notified of a recall petition for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West UK parliamentary constituency.
The petition will be opened from Tuesday 20 June and will close on Monday July 31.
More details in the View:
We are working towards the closure of all South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries at the end of this week, in line with national advice.
For more information see
Extremely challenging day, gritting crews have been working hard throughout. Fresh crews will be working through the night as we continue to operate on a 24/7 basis. Please heed travel advice. Amber warning in place until 6pm tomorrow.
We know many people are concerned about school arrangements.
We’re currently giving consideration to the support we'll provide to key workers & vulnerable children & we’re working to put a clear plan in place.
We’ll provide a further update as soon as we can give more info.
We expect all nurseries, primary, secondary and Additional Support Needs schools to open and all transport to run as normal tomorrow (Monday 22 January). Any updates, particularly around transport will be posted here as soon as we get them in the morning.
Tuesday 11 August will be an in-service day for our school staff, with children and young people returning initially on a phased basis from Wednesday 12 August.
Today is national Thank A Teacher Day.
We say thank you to all our teachers in South Lanarkshire for the wonderful job you do in inspiring learners and supporting families, especially in these unsettled times.
#itsSLC
Following suspension of industrial action we can confirm all South Lanarkshire schools and nurseries are expected to open as normal next week. Any more info will be shared next week. For changes to bin collections on Monday 5 September see:
New gritting crews on today, back to back 12 hour shifts for next week, the guys on last week will be back in a week, meantime they will work dayshifts. These guys keep us moving.
A pupil from East Kilbride has won a competition to design the First Minister's Christmas card. The message in the card has an emotional summary of 2020 from a child's perspective. Read the full story, including the card's text, in the View:
The difficult decision has been taken to close all children’s play areas in South Lanarkshire, and close car parks at some public parks, in line with the latest advice on social distancing to limit the spread of coronavirus. More details here
From Friday 3 April we are introducing fortnightly £30 PayPoint vouchers which will be sent directly to parents/carers of children entitled to free school meals. Full details here -
The result from today's South Lanarkshire Council by-election for Ward 9 - East Kilbride West: LABOUR WIN. Kirsty Williams elected with 1,386 first preference votes and at Stage 6.
The position re schools tomorrow is unchanged – Assisted Special Needs transport is off but other school transport and all schools expected to open. We will monitor the weather overnight and issue any alerts and updates as early as we can in the morning. Please check here.
No one wants to go into lockdown again but South Lanarkshire is very close to having extra restrictions put in place.
For more information see
#KeepLOL
A married couple aren't just living together during lockdown - they're also working together as part of the army of bin crews helping get rid of waste across South Lanarkshire. Read the full story on the View news pages:
Significant further snow expected overnight, please heed travel warnings and take care, amber warning in place until 6pm tomorrow, another challenging day tomorrow but gritting crews will be doing their very best.
Preparations continue to open schools tomorrow. But some footpaths are difficult and pupils should be careful on journeys. Many thanks to parents and neighbours who have been pitching in to clear paths at some schools. Gates will be opened where possible if anyone else can help.
Schools across South Lanarkshire are helping in the fight against coronavirus by producing personal protective equipment for colleagues in the NHS. Read the full story on the View news pages:
SCHOOLS (THREAD TO FOLLOW)
All schools in South Lanarkshire will be closed to pupils on Tuesday 6 September, Wednesday 7 September and Thursday 8 September because of industrial action.
Understandably we are being asked what the Scottish Govt’s latest Covid announcement means for our schools, which remain open today and tomorrow. We await further details from government as we plan for January & information will be issued to parents/carers as soon as possible
Parents and carers across South Lanarkshire are being reassured that arrangements are in place for the safe return of all pupils in August. Full details are on the View news pages:
Have a good weekend folks. But please remember the advice on how to stay safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Let's Keep Lanarkshire Out of Lockdown.
#KeepLOL
School news
Thursday 7 May is an in-service day & schools are closed on Friday 8 May for the VE Day public holiday. This means work won't be sent to pupils & teachers won’t be available. Our emergency childcare hubs WILL be be open both days to support key workers.
Lanarkshire has been kept in Covid Level 3 from 10 November but the First Minister warns Level 4 restrictions may be necessary if infections don’t start to fall.
Please stick together and stick to the rules to avoid Lockdown 2.
A motion calling for a ban on single use disposable vapes has been agreed by South Lanarkshire Council.
The motion was unanimously agreed by councillors following a meeting of the full Council.
More details in the View:
An East Kilbride pupil was over the moon with his exam results - and his mum has paid tribute to the support he has received throughout his school journey. Read the full story on the View news pages:
We have reports of people going around offering to empty bins for £10. As always, never deal with any cold caller at your door. What is in those bins, personal information that could be stolen and sold on? An opportunist might see more than one opportunity to make cash.
We note the First Minister’s announcement on the phased return to schools from 22 Feb for nursery children, those in P1-P3 and some S4-S6 pupils. We have been developing plans with schools and nurseries and further details will be provided this week for staff, parents and carers
Now that the bin collections have been cancelled today we have the bin crews and grounds maintenance teams out helping with gritting and snow clearing.
Free school meals to be extended to primary pupils. This will be phased in over the coming year, with expansion for those in P4 starting after this year's summer break, followed by P5 in January 2022 & P6 & P7 in August 2022. See our website for menus:
Another extremely difficult night for gritting crews, a lot more snow as forecast and problems with drifting. Amber warning remains in place until 6pm. Please heed national travel advice. Even well treated main roads are tricky. Significant further snow forecast also.
A new Community Meals service - making sure some of the most vulnerable people in South Lanarkshire are not going hungry - has now been set up. Full details are on the View news pages:
The Deputy First Minister updated the Scottish Parliament today about re-opening schools in August, dependent upon advice and continued suppression of the virus.
Tony McDaid, Exec Director of Education Resources, said: "I will keep everyone updated when we hear more on 30 July."
Schools alert: Following the latest advice from the Met Office, it has been decided that all South Lanarkshire schools will close at lunchtime today. Transport providers, including Additional Support Needs, have been alerted and are making arrangements to pick up pupils.
Two architects from Housing and Technical Resources who normally design new schools are now working from one of our campuses delivering food to the elderly. Both are part of an army of council volunteers supporting communities across SL. Read more here:
Strathaven Park has once again been voted the top park in Scotland - for an amazing fifth time in a row! The park was the only one in the country to make the top ten in a nationwide poll of the UK’s best green spaces. More info in the View:
Good progress today on snow clearing particularly in rural areas, albeit a lot of work still required to clear substantial snow drifts. Thanks to all who did the hard work. Operations will continue through the night and tomorrow.
Work continues to open ALL schools tomorrow and run ALL school transport, including Additional Support Needs. Crews are ensuring there’s suitable access to schools but parents/carers & staff should plan their journeys & be prepared for local issues like snow affecting car parks
South Lanarkshire Council is calling for tougher restrictions on firework sales and the introduction of firework-free zones. The move, backed by all political groups at the council, was agreed today. More info on the View news pages:
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture premises are to close from tomorrow, Wednesday 18 March 2020, in response to the coronavirus situation, following the most recent advice from the Scottish and UK governments. Membership fees will be suspended.
The council’s childcare provision for key workers during the coronavirus issue is moving to a hub model operating from 20 primary schools. Parents/carers will need to apply for a place with an initial deadline of 9am Wed 25 March. More details here
Lanarkshire’s Covid-19 rate means we are close to further social restrictions. If you are going out to a pub or restaurant please read the rules first:
Keep Lanarkshire out of lockdown
#KeepLoL
Social housing is to be developed at the site of a former bingo hall in Hamilton. The old Vogue building has been sold for a nominal fee to Clyde Valley Housing Association, with plans to convert it to 23 flats and retain the B-listed facade. More info:
We note the Scottish Government’s guidance on face coverings to be used by pupils and staff and will work with our schools and transport providers to ensure compliance across South Lanarkshire’s schools.
As already arranged, standalone nurseries reopen Tues and schools and their nurseries on Thurs – only for emergency childcare where parents are essential workers or a child is vulnerable. Schools will remain in touch with parents on remote working which begins Monday 11 January.
Schools, nurseries and education establishments in South Lanarkshire will open on Monday and Tuesday for Category One key workers.
And pupils entitled to a free school meal will still be able to get one.
Full details here
Government advice is that it's OK to go out to exercise once a day. But please only do so with members of your household, don’t congregate and don’t make any unnecessary journeys to parks and scenic spots.
#stayhomesavelives
More advice here:
He came to South Lanarkshire as a refugee building a new life, now he has been named as a ❤️ BHF ❤️ Volunteer of the Year.
We were delighted to welcome 18 year old Mohamad to HQ to congratulate him and recognise his achievement.
More info on The View
Provost Ian McAllan laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of everyone in South Lanarkshire. Because of the current restrictions he did so on his own, but please take some time to reflect on all the brave men and women who gave their lives.
#Lestweforget
2/3 As well as the fantastic plough and gritter crews who have battled the elements to clear roads we've had teams from various departments out in 4x4s delivering meals, home care workers getting support to the vulnerable in remote areas etc.
St Andrew's and St Bride's is the first school in the country to install a unique reverse vending machine.
In less than a fortnight pupils have recycled almost 3000 cans and plastic bottles as part of the pilot project instigated by the council.
Full story
We stopped cutting grass on 24 March following guidance from the Scottish Government. They stated that only essential services should continue to be delivered. We are now reintroducing services and working on our open spaces.
We will put on an extra service on Saturday to collect black/green bins that were missed on Thursday 26 March in the Hamilton and Clydesdale areas. Please make sure all of your waste is in your bin.
We can now confirm that Tuesday 29 September 2020 will be the 2nd in-service day for 2020/21 academic year.
All other in-service days remain unchanged and can be found on our website:
Calling all secondary pupils! We have a new app to pre-order your lunch and mid-morning snack.
For info on how to download, and to view our new lunch menu priced £1.75, please go to:
Our Dog Warden picked up this stray in Lanark area yesterday. The dog has been taken to the SSPCA centre on Bothwell Rd, Hamilton. If this is your dog you can reclaim it by contacting the SSPCA - 03000 999 999 - option 2 then option 2 again to get through to Lanarkshire branch
Our Dog Warden picked up this stray in the Hamilton area today (Monday 21 Sep). The dog has been taken to the SSPCA centre on Bothwell Road, Hamilton. If this is your dog you can reclaim it by contacting the SSPCA on 03000 999 999 - Option 2 & then option 2 again
School hubs across South Lanarkshire remain open today and Easter Monday to help support critical key workers. We have been taking a look at some of the work going on inside the hubs on the View news pages:
The Covid-19 vaccination is here. Everyone in South Lanarkshire over the age of 18 will get an invitation to get their jab, and do their bit to protect themselves and others. But do you know what you need to do?
Staff at Rutherglen Library will give up their own time on Christmas Day to open its doors to those who could do with a little festive cheer and company. Find out about opening times, and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop's visit to chat about it, here:
Teaching unions intend to hold industrial action on Thursday 24 November. Based on current information, it is anticipated that no South Lanarkshire primary, secondary or ASN schools will be able to open for pupils that day. This includes nursery classes in primary schools.
Calderglen Zoo is ready to reopen to the public from Monday 13th July.
New arrangements for visitors are in place to protect public health - read the full details in The View:
The staff and animals are looking forward to welcoming visitors again.
As of tomorrow morning (23 March) a third of the main council car park on Beckford Street will be allocated to NHS staff & patients at the Douglas St Clinic. This is due to the rise in footfall.
The rest of the car park can still be used as well as other car parks in the area.
For the first time in a week or so most of our weather stations showing road surface temperatures above zero and rising. Thaw will be slow initially but will quicken.
Extremely difficult conditions on many rural roads tonight. Winds now constantly blowing the snow from the fields across the roads causing significant drifting. Essential that national warnings are heeded. Stay safe.