Strike action at East Renfrewshire schools is due to take place next week as a row over teachers’ pay escalates.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union and the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) have officially notified council chiefs of their members’ intention to take part in industrial action on Thursday, November 24.

Due to this, all primary, secondary and additional support needs schools across East Renfrewshire will be closed.

A limited service is expected in family centres and nursery classes, with further details to be provided by individual establishments.

A letter from Mark Ratter, director of education at East Renfrewshire Council, which has been sent to local families states: “This action will affect all our schools and early learning and childcare establishments.

“Our aim, as always, is to secure a safe environment for our staff and young people and maintain continuity of learning where possible but regretfully, given the extent of the action on this occasion, all schools will be closed to primary and secondary age pupils and there will be a limited service in our family centres and nursery classes across the council.

“Your child’s nursery will be in touch with you to confirm the arrangements for attendance.

“I understand that the industrial action will cause significant disruption to the learning of our children and young people and that families will have to make alternative arrangements for childcare during these days.

“I am sorry for the inconvenience this will cause.”

For those pupils who are eligible to receive free school meals and have completed an application, a payment will be made to the parents or carers’ bank accounts to provide support in light of the closure.

A payment of £2.50 will be made for each child and will be paid alongside the Christmas Bridging Payment in mid-December, using the bank account details supplied for payment of any other benefits distributed by the council.

For those who use add-on care in one of the local authority's early years establishments, this service will not be available during strike action.

Any payments already made will be deducted from future charges.

In his letter, Mr Ratter added that, while the council has been formally notified by trade unions of their intention to strike, there is also the possibility that, through ongoing negotiations, the walkout may not take place but he assured families they will be kept informed through the council's website as the situation develops.

Andrea Bradley, EIS general secretary, last week called on staff in all of Scotland's schools to strike on November 24, in what will be the first action of its kind over pay in almost 40 years.

She said: "We hoped not to get to this point and have given local authorities and the Scottish Government ample time to come up with a fair pay offer.

"But with a pay rise for teachers now more than seven months late and with the last pay offer having been rejected by teachers almost three months ago, the blame for this move to strike action sits squarely with (local government body) Cosla and the Scottish Government."

Teachers "do not take strike action lightly", she added, saying politicians who "lauded" their work in the pandemic are now offering them a "deep real-terms pay cut".

Speaking last week, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said a teachers' strike was not inevitable.

She added: "As a Scottish Government, we're absolutely determined to see what we can do, to see if there's additional funding that we can provide to Cosla to allow Cosla as the employers to provide an enhanced pay offer."