Schools in Dumbarton and the Vale are to close during the first days of the new term as teaching union members stage strike action in a national pay dispute.

Primary schools, early learning and childcare centres (ELCCs) and term-time nursery classes across West Dunbartonshire will be shut on Tuesday, January 10 as members of teaching unions EIS, Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, NASUWT and the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes take strike action.

All the area's secondary schools will then close on Wednesday, January 11.

West Dunbartonshire Council have reminded parents to make alternative childcare plans ahead of the strikes.

The EIS, the country's largest teaching union, is also planning strike action in West Dunbartonshire on January 26.  

In a statement posted on social media, a West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: "We’re excited to welcome all our pupils back to school on Monday, January 9. We hope you’ve all had a great winter break!

"Industrial action is taking place next week with all primary schools, early years centres connected to schools and Kilpatrick ASN School closed on Tuesday, January 10 and all secondary schools closed on Wednesday, January 11.

"Standalone ELCCs will remain open the 10th."

West Dunbartonshire has also confirmed that all of its schools - both primary and secondary - and term-time nurseries are due to close on Thursday, January 26, as EIS members working in the area take part in the fourth of a programme of 16 strike days across Scotland.

Previously the Reporter told how schoolchildren across the local authority were being forced to stay at home as teachers walked out in their first national pay strike in almost 40 years.

Schools closed on November 24 last year as thousands of EIS members picketed their workplaces in pursuit of their demands for higher wages, with warnings of more strikes to come.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “What Scotland’s teachers have been offered amounts to a real-terms pay cut of up to 11 per cent; as the cost of living soars, [they] deserve and expect an appropriate increase.

“We have offered every opportunity to the Scottish Government and Cosla to settle this; they owe it to teachers and pupils to end this dispute by committing to a fair pay increase.”